THROUGH HAWAII. 
27 
the death of their discoverer, but who had ever lament¬ 
ed with deepest regret that melancholy event. He alone 
had prevented the murderous intentions of his chieftains 
towards former vessels from being carried into effect; 
and it was his uniform endeavour to shew every mark 
of friendship to those who visited his dominions. His 
attachment to the English induced him, during the stay 
of Captain Vancouver, to cede the island of Hawaii 
to the British crown, and to place himself and his domi¬ 
nions under British protection; an act which was re¬ 
peated by his son, the late king, on his accession to the 
sovereignty of all the islands. 
The natives received many advantages from the visit 
of Captain Vancouver; a breed of cattle, and a variety 
of useful seeds, had been given. Generous and dis¬ 
interested in his whole behaviour, he secured their 
friendship and attachment, and many still retain grate¬ 
ful recollections of his visit. 
After his departure, the islands were seldom resorted 
to, except by traders from the United States of America, 
who, having discovered among them the sandal-wood, 
conveyed large quantities of it to Canton, where it is 
readily purchased by the Chinese, manufactured into 
incense, and burnt in their idol temples. -Subsequently, 
the South Sea whalers began to fish in the North Pacific, 
when the Sandwich Islands afforded a convenient ren¬ 
dezvous for refitting and procuring refreshments during 
their protracted voyages, particularly since they have 
found the sperm whale on the coast of Japan, where of 
late years the greater parts of their cargoes have been 
procured. 
So early as the year 1798, the London Missionary 
Society despatched the ship Duff to the South Sea 
