Narrative of a Voyage to the Northwest Coast of America in the years 1811, 1812, 1813, and 1814 or the First American Settlement on the Pacific by Gabriel Franchere
page 39 of 215 (18%)
page 39 of 215 (18%)
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to himself the monopoly of that branch of commerce, for the augmentation
of his royal revenue by its exclusive profits. The governor also informed them that no rain had fallen on the south part of Hawaii for three years; which explained why we found so little fresh water: he added that the north part of the island was more fertile than the south, where we were: but that there was no good anchorage: that part of the coast being defended by sunken rocks which form heavy breakers. In fine, the governor dismissed our gentlemen with a present of four fine fat hogs; and we, in return, sent him some tea, coffee, and chocolate, and a keg of Madeira wine. The night was nearly a perfect calm, and on the 17th we found ourselves abreast of _Mona-Wororayea_ a snow-capped mountain, like _Mona-Roah_, but which appeared to me less lofty than the latter. A number of islanders came to visit us as before, with some objects of curiosity, and some small fresh fish. The wind rising on the 18th, we soon passed the western extremity of Hawaii, and sailed by Mowhee and Tahooraha, two more islands of this group, and said to be, like the rest, thickly inhabited. The first presents a highly picturesque aspect, being composed of hills rising in the shape of a sugar loaf and completely covered with cocoa-nut and bread-fruit trees. At last, on the 21st, we approached Wahoo, and came to anchor opposite the bay of _Ohetity_, outside the bar, at a distance of some two miles from the land. CHAPTER V. |
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