OAHU. 
17 
Tamehameha: at the edge of the Pari, Taiana 
made a stand, and defended it till he fell: the 
troops of the fallen chiefs still continued the con¬ 
flict. till, being completely routed, a number of 
them, it is said four hundred, were driven headlong 
over the precipice, and dashed to pieces among 
the fragments of rock that lie at its base, leaving 
Tamehameha master of the field, and sovereign of 
the island. The natives still point out the spot 
where the king of the island stood, when he hurled 
his last spear at the advancing foe, and received 
the fatal wound ; and many, as they pass by, turn 
aside from the path, place their feet on what they 
describe as the identical spot where he is said to 
have stood, assume the attitude in which he is 
said to have received his mortal wound, and, pois¬ 
ing their staff or their spear, tell their children or 
companions that there the last king of Oahu died 
defending his country from its invaders. 
Immediately south of the valley of Anuanu is 
situated the town and harbour of Honoruru: the 
harbour is the best, and indeed the only secure one 
at all seasons, in the Sandwich Islands, and is more 
frequented by foreign vessels than any other; sel¬ 
dom having within it less than three or four, and 
sometimes upwards of thirty, lying at anchor at the 
same time. The town has also, since the number 
of shipping has increased, become populous ; it 
is one of the largest in the islands, usually con¬ 
taining 6000 or 7000 inhabitants; it is the frequent 
residence of the king and principal chiefs, who are 
much engaged in traffic with foreigners visiting the 
islands, or residing on shore, for purposes of trade. 
There are twelve or fourteen merchants, principally 
Americans, who have established warehouses on 
shore for foreign goods, principally piece-goods, 
iv. c 
