416 
VOYAGE TO THE 
CHAP, session of by the natives. Kryrnakoo, however, with a body of followers 
from Woahoo, overthrew the rebels. The chief being permitted to 
J'l"- choose the manner of his death, desired that he might be carried to sea, 
and be drowned by having a weight fastened round his neck. In 
addition to this attempt of the llussians to separate Atooi from the 
kingdom, it was supposed that America was also desirous of forming a 
settlement upon one of the islands. Rio-Rio foreseeing that occasional 
rebellions might arise in his dominions, through the interference of 
foreign powers, determined on a voyage to England to have a personal 
interview with the king, under whose protection the islands had been 
placed by Tamehameha, and also, perhaps, from a desire to see the 
country, which furnished articles so superior to the manufactures of his 
owm dominions. 
I’he death of Rio-Rio and his queen, it is well known, occurred in 
this visit to England. Their bodies were conveyed to the Sandwich 
Islands by Lord Byron, in H. M. Ship Blonde, and lodged in a house 
built for the pui’pose, where they still remain*. Lord Byron having 
given the chiefs, in Boki’s words, “ good advice,” and having placed the 
crown upon the head of Kiukiuli, the brother of Rio-Rio, and seen the 
government confided to Kryrnakoo as regent, quitted the islands about 
ten months before our first arrival. 
Previous to the death of Tamehameha, several European houses 
appeared in Woahoo. Vessels and warlike stores had been purchased with 
sandal wood. The navigation of the Pacific became more general in con- 
sequence of the return of peace, and the islands were more frequently 
visited. The abolition of the taboo had already produced an entire change 
in the state of society, and frequent interviews with foreigners created 
amongst the inhabitants a desire for dress and for luxuries, which was 
increased by the visit of the chiefs to England. Thus improvement 
advanced, as might have been expected under such advantageous cir- 
* In 1827, some of the chiefs had been persuaded that it was improper to keep the 
bodies above ground, and these beautiful coffins covered with cnmson velvet and silver 
were about to be lowered into the earth, as a commendable mortification of pride, when 
they were prevented by the timely arrival of a gentleman, from whom this account wiis 
derived. 
