164 
VOYAGE TO THE 
which the missionaries, who measured it, say is 945 feet of 
perpendicular height; we were at many miles’ distance, yet 
distinctly perceived its grand and romantic character. As 
we sailed along, the sun every now and then shot a gleam 
of brightness upon the dark cliffs, partially clothed in green, 
and, opening to these valleys, presenting one of the loveliest 
scenes we ever beheld. 
Sunday, June 12 .—Just as divine service was ended, 
we rounded a point, now called Blonde point, and anchored 
in Weakeah (now Byron) Bay. This beautiful and safe 
anchorage never having been entered before by a man-of- 
war, Kahumanu gave orders that henceforth it should be 
known only by the name of Byron Bay, in compliment to 
our commander: it lies in the district of Hido; hence it is 
sometimes called Hido Bay. Captain Vancouver had been 
off the bay at his last visit to the Islands, in January 1794, 
but had conceived it unsafe to enter; in fact, the appearance 
from without is not inviting. A reef of lava runs nearly 
across the mouth of the harbour, on which the sea breaks 
violently; and, at first sight, it may appear, from various 
points, to break completely across ; but there is a channel 
of upwards of half a mile between the east end of the reef 
and the shore, which leads into an extensive and safe basin, 
with good bottom, gradually shoaling from nineteen feet 
