76 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
gation among the islands, on account of the light 
and variable winds or calms generally experienced 
there; the course of the trade-winds being inter¬ 
cepted by the high lands of Maui and Ranai. 
It is not unusual for vessels, passing that way, 
to be becalmed there for six, eight, or even ten 
days. The natives, with the small craft belonging 
to the islands, usually keep close in shore, avail 
themselves of the gentle land-breeze to pass the 
point in the evening, and run into Lahaina with 
the sea-breeze in the morning; but this is attended 
with danger, as there is usually a heavy swell roll¬ 
ing in towards the land. One or two vessels 
have escaped being drifted on the rocks, only by 
the prompt assistance of their boats. 
At day-break, on the 4th, we found ourselves 
within about four miles of Lahaina, which is the 
principal district in Maui, on account of its being 
the general residence of the chiefs, and the com¬ 
mon resort of ships that touch at the island. 
A dead calm prevailed; but by means of two 
large sweeps, or oars, each worked by four men, we 
reached the roads, and anchored at 6 a. m. 
The appearance of Lahaina from the anchorage 
is singularly romantic and beautiful. A fine sandy 
beach stretches along the margin of the sea, lined 
for a considerable distance with houses, and 
adorned with shady clumps of kou-trees, or waving 
groves of cocoa-nuts. The former is a species of 
cordia—the cordia sebastina in Cook's voyages. 
The level land of the whole district, for about three 
miles, is one continued garden, laid out in beds of 
taro, potatoes, yams, sugar-cane, or cloth-plants. 
The lowly cottage of the farmer is seen peeping 
through the leaves of the luxuriant plantain and 
banana tree, and in every direction white columns 
