SANDWICH ISLANDS. 
167 
maim appropriated to his use a large and very convenient 
house, which had just been constructed for the chief of the 
district. It was delightfully situated on the banks of the 
Wairuku: the floor was laid with small black pebbles, and 
carefully covered with mats, and the roof lined with the 
leaves of the pandanus; there was a door at each end, and 
several windows were cut in the thatch, so that when we 
had furnished it with a few chairs and tables, and screened 
off our bed-places with tappa, it really formed a very com¬ 
fortable habitation. Lord Byron kindly invited half a dozen 
of us to live with him ashore; and as our situation there 
permitted us to make many excursions in the neighbour¬ 
hood, our holiday from the ship was extremely agreeable. 
Kahumanu caused five temporary huts to be erected near 
us for herself, her companions, and servants, in order that 
she might be at hand to render us any assistance in her 
power; and as she has absolute dominion in the Islands, her 
neighbourhood was important to us in procuring supplies, 
in securing boats, and whatever else could contribute to 
our comfort. 
No longer giving way to the violent passions which dis¬ 
graced her youth, this queen is now distinguished by the 
Hawaiians as the Good Kahumanu. She is one of the 
most zealous among the new Christians, and her first act, on 
