104 
VOYAGE TO THE 
made; the ohia # and the sugar-cane; all in gay and rich 
confusion, approaching very closely to the white surf which 
breaks constantly on the beach. We had however little 
time to feed our eyes with these pleasant things, the more 
agreeable after our long voyage, when we received the dis¬ 
tressing news, that Kahumanu had been called from this 
Island to Oahu, where the greater number of the chiefs 
were assembled, that they might be at hand to prevent 
disturbances in case of the death of Karaimoku, which was 
daily expected. Boki appeared extremely agitated at this 
news; indeed, were his love for his brother not so great as 
it undoubtedly is, his life just at this time is of the greatest 
political and private importance to him. One of the king’s 
schooners being fortunately in the bay, Boki despatched it 
instantly to Oahu with the news of our arrival; and then 
he, with Liliah and their companions, landed, being dressed 
in deep mourning. Liliah appeared in a black silk dress, 
and a black hat and feathers, doubtless the first that had 
ever been worn in the Island by a native. Boki seemed 
overcome with extraordinary emotion, and told Lord Byron 
as he went on shore, that he felt within j* as if all was 
* Ohia, Eugenia Malaccensis, or jumbo of the East Indies. 
*f* The Islanders call the belly the seat of feeling, and talk of it as we do of 
the heart. The Hebrew expression of the bowels' yearning is analogous. 
