THROUGH HAWAII. 
459 
welfare of the Hawaiians, though natural, were ground¬ 
less. The British government had entertained the 
young ruler of the Sandwich Islands, his consort and 
attendants, with its accustomed hospitality; and when 
they were attacked by diseases incident to a northern 
climate, but unknown in their native islands, every 
attention that humanity could suggest, and every alle¬ 
viation that the first medical skill in London could 
afford, was most promptly rendered. After their de¬ 
cease, the highest respect was paid to their remains, 
and, in honourable regard to the feelings of the nation 
who had suffered this painful bereavement, a British 
frigate, under the command of Captain Lord Byron, 
was appointed to convey to the Sandwich Islands the 
bodies of the king and queen, that their sorrowing peo¬ 
ple might have the mournful satisfaction of depositing 
their ashes among the tombs of their ancestors. 
By the return of a highly esteemed missionary friend, 
Bev. C. S. Stewart, I have learned that the Blonde 
leached the islands in the month of May, 1825: the na¬ 
tives were in some degree prepared for the arrival, by 
the intelligence of the death of their king and queen, 
which they had received about two months before from 
Valpariso. Shortly after the vessel having the remains 
of the king and queen on board had anchored off Oahu, 
Boki, the principal chief, who had accompanied the 
king to England, attended by those of his countrymen 
who had also returned, proceeded on shore : on landing, 
he was met by his elder brother Kairaimoku, and other 
distinguished chiefs, and after the first emotions of joy 
at meeting again, and sorrow on account of the loss 
all had sustained, were somewhat abated, the survivors 
and their friends walked in solemn and mournful pro- 
