TRAVELS IN THE CALIFORNIA S. 
35 
brought sad news* One of their former friends had recently 
died ! On hearing this their hands dropped, and the dread¬ 
ful wail ewai burst from every mouth, as they rose and went 
towards the hut in which the dead body lay. It was situ¬ 
ated a short distance from the hotel; and during the night 
I heard that wail ring through the silent town ! A more 
painful expression of sorrow I hope never to hear. The 
next morning I went to the burial. The wail was sus¬ 
pended during the ceremonies ; but for several succeeding 
nights it continued to break my slumbers. A few days after¬ 
ward I saw them gathered again near the market-place em¬ 
ployed with their poi. The wages of five years’ service was 
nearly exhausted. They had given a large portion to the 
chief of their district, and spent the rest in feasting and cloth¬ 
ing their poor relatives. They were poor when I lost sight 
of them. But those whom they had fed were sharing their 
pittance with them. The most affectionate and hospitable 
people on earth are these Hawaiians. ’ 
Our Carolinian remained a few days at Honolulu, and 
took passage in one of P. J. Farnham & Co.’s ships for New 
York. He insisted to the very last of my intercourse with 
him, that his Californian brunette was a woman ! 
Mr. Simpson took lodgings with that distinguished slice 
of a John Bull to which I have already referred. He em¬ 
ployed himself with much industry upon his duties of set¬ 
tling accounts with his host, who, as the agent of the Com¬ 
pany, had sold the lumber, fish, &c., exported from Oregon 
to these islands. After tarrying a month at Honolulu, he 
returned in the Vancouver to Columbia River. He was a 
fine fellow, full of anecdote and social feeling, talented and 
modest; and I doubt not will eventually rise to the highest 
rank in the Company’s service. 
The professor of psalmody stopped at the hotel and pre¬ 
pared to exhibit himself. His first essay was to deliver to 
the American Missionaries and others, certain letters which 
he had obtained in Oregon. His next was to awaken the 
