Beforesunrisethenextday,JimmyandtheTypeestartedintwooftheship’sboats,whichweremannedbytabooednatives。Toby,ofcourse,wasalleagernesstogoalong,butthesailortoldhimthatifhedid,itwouldspoilall;so,hardasitwas,hewasobligedtoremain。
Towardseveninghewasonthewatch,anddescriedtheboatsturningtheheadlandandenteringthebay。Hestrainedhiseyes,andthoughthesawme;butIwasnotthere。Descendingfromthemastalmostdistracted,hegrappledJimmyashestruckthedeck,shoutinginavoicethatstartledhim,“WhereisTommo?“Theoldfellowfaltered,butsoonrecovering,didallhecouldtosoothehim,assuringhimthatithadprovedtobeimpossibletogetmedowntotheshorethatmorning;assigningmanyplausiblereasons,andaddingthatearlyonthemorrowhewasgoingtovisitthebayagaininaFrenchboat,when,ifhedidnotfindmeonthebeach-asthistimehecertainlyexpectedto-hewouldmarchrightbackintothevalley,andcarrymeawayatallhazards。He,however,againrefusedtoallowTobytoaccompanyhim。
Now,situatedasTobywas,hissoledependenceforthepresentwasuponthisJimmy,andthereforehewasfaintocomforthimselfaswellashecouldwithwhattheoldsailortoldhim。
Thenextmorning,however,hehadthesatisfactionofseeingtheFrenchboatstartwithJimmyinit。To-night,then,Iwillseehim,thoughtToby;butmanyalongdaypassedbeforeheeversawTommoagain。Hardlywastheboatoutofsight,whenthecaptaincameforwardandorderedtheanchorweighed;hewasgoingtosea。
VainwereallToby’sravings,-theyweredisregarded;andwhenhecametohimself,thesailswereset,andtheshipfastleavingtheland。
Oh!saidhetomeatourmeeting,whatsleeplessnightsweremine。
OftenIstartedfrommyhammock,dreamingyouwerebeforeme,andupbraidingmeforleavingyouontheisland。
Thereislittlemoretoberelated。TobyleftthisvesselNewZealand,andaftersomefurtheradventures,arrivedhomeinlessthantwoyearsafterleavingtheMarquesas。Healwaysthoughtofmeasdead-andIhadeveryreasontosupposethathe,too,wasnomore;butastrangemeetingwasinstoreforus,onewhichmadeToby’sheartallthelighter。
THEauthorofthisvolumearrivedatTahititheverydaythattheiniquitousdesignsoftheFrenchwereconsummatedbyinducingthesubordinatechiefs,duringtheabsenceoftheirqueen,toratifyanartfully-drawntreaty,bywhichshewasvirtuallydeposed。Bothmenacesandcaresseswereemployedonthisoccasion,andthe32-pounderswhichpeepedoutoftheport-holesofthefrigateweretheprincipalargumentsadducedtoquietthescruplesofthemoreconscientiousislanders。
AndyetthispiraticalseizureofTahiti,withallthewoeanddesolationwhichresultedfromit,creatednothalfsogreatasensation,atleastinAmerica,aswascausedbytheproceedingsoftheEnglishattheSandwichIslands。NotransactionhaseverbeenmoregrosslymisrepresentedthantheeventswhichoccurreduponthearrivalofLordGeorgePauletatOahu。DuringaresidenceoffourmonthsatHonolulu,themetropolisofthegroup,theauthorwasintheconfidenceofanEnglishmanwhowasmuchemployedbyhislordship;andgreatwastheauthor’sastonishmentonhisarrivalatBoston,intheautumnof1844,toreadthedistortedaccountsandfabricationswhichhadproducedintheUnitedStatessoviolentanoutbreakofindignationagainsttheEnglish。Hedeemsit,therefore,amereactofjusticetowardsagallantofficerbrieflytostatetheleadingcircumstancesconnectedwiththeeventinquestion。
Itisneedlesstorehearsealltheabusethatforsometimeprevioustothespringof1843hadbeenheapedupontheBritishresidents,especiallyuponCaptainCharlton,HerBritannicMajesty’sconsul-general,bythenativeauthoritiesoftheSandwichIslands。
HighinthefavouroftheimbecilekingatthistimewasoneDr。Judd,asanctimoniousapothecary-adventurer,who,withotherkindredandinfluentialspirits,wereanimatedbyaninveteratedisliketoEngland。TheascendancyofajuntaofignorantanddesigningMethodisteldersinthecouncilsofahalfcivilisedking,rulingwithabsoluteswayoveranationjustpoisedbetweenbarbarismandcivilisation,andexposedbythepeculiaritiesofitsrelationswithforeignstatestounusualdifficulties,wasnotpreciselycalculatedtoimpartahealthytonetothepolicyofthegovernment。
Atlastmatterswerebroughttosuchanextremity,throughtheiniquitousmaladministrationofaffairs,thattheenduranceoffurtherinsultsandinjuriesonthepartoftheBritishconsulwasnolongertobeborne。CaptainCharlton,insultinglyforbiddentoleavetheislands,clandestinelywithdrew,andarrivingatValparaiso,conferredwithRear-AdmiralThomas,theEnglishcommander-in-chiefonthePacificstation。Inconsequenceofthiscommunication,LordGeorgePauletwasdespatchedbytheadmiralintheCarysfortfrigate,toinquireintoandcorrecttheallegedabuses。Onarrivingathisdestination,hesenthisfirstlieutenantashorewithalettertotheking,couchedintermsoftheutmostcourtesy,andsolicitingthehonourofanaudience。ThemessengerwasdeniedaccesstoHisMajesty,andPauletwascoollyreferredtoDr。Judd,andinformedthattheapothecarywasinvestedwithplenarypowerstotreatwithhim。
Rejectingthisinsolentproposition,hislordshipagainaddressedthekingbyletter,andrenewedhispreviousrequest;butheencounteredanotherrepulse。Justlyindignantatthistreatment,hepennedathirdepistle,enumeratingthegrievancestoberedressed,anddemandingacompliancewithhisrequisitions,underpenaltyofimmediatehostilities。
Thegovernmentwasnowobligedtoact,andanartfulstrokeofpolicywasdecideduponbythedespicablecouncillorsofthekingtoentrapthesympathiesandrousetheindignationofChristendom。HisMajestywasmadetointimatetotheBritishcaptainthathecouldnot,astheconscientiousrulerofhisbelovedpeople,complywiththearbitrarydemandsofhislordship,andindeprecationofthehorrorsofwar,tenderedtohisacceptancetheprovisionalcessionoftheislands,subjecttotheresultofthenegotiationsthenpendinginLondon。Paulet,abluffandstraightforwardsailor,tookthekingathisword,andaftersomepreliminaryarrangements,enteredupontheadministrationofHawaiianaffairs,inthesamefirmandbenignantspiritwhichmarkedthedisciplineofhisfrigate,andwhichhadrenderedhimtheidolofhisship’scompany。Hesoonendearedhimselftonearlyallordersoftheislanders;butthekingandthechiefs,whosefeudalswayoverthecommonpeoplewaslaboriouslysoughttobeperpetuatedbytheirmissionaryadvisers,regardedallhisproceedingswiththemostvigilantanimosity。Jealousofhisgrowingpopularity,andunabletocounteractit,theyendeavouredtoassailhisreputationabroadbyostentatiouslyprotestingagainsthisacts,andappealinginOrientalphrasetothewideuniversetowitnessandcompassionatetheirunparalleledwrongs。
Heedlessoftheiridleclamours,LordGeorgePauletaddressedhimselftothetaskofreconcilingthedifferencesamongtheforeignresidents,remedyingtheirgrievances,promotingtheirmercantileinterests,andameliorating,asfaraslayinhispower,theconditionofthedegradednatives。Theiniquitieshebroughttolightandinstantlysuppressedaretoonumeroustobehererecorded;butoneinstancemaybementionedthatwillgivesomeideaofthelamentablemisruletowhichthesepoorislandersaresubjected。
ItiswellknownthatthelawsattheSandwichIslandsaresubjecttothemostcapriciousalterations,which,byconfoundingallideasofrightandwronginthemindsofthenatives,producethemostperniciouseffects。Innocaseisthismischiefmoreplainlydiscerniblethaninthecontinuallyshiftingregulationsconcerninglicentiousness。Atonetimethemostinnocentfreedomsbetweenthesexesarepunishedwithfineandimprisonment;atanothertherevocationofthestatuteisfollowedbythemostopenandundisguisedprofligacy。
ItsohappenedthatattheperiodofPaulet’sarrivaltheConnecticutbluelawshadbeenforatleastthreeweekssteadilyenforced。Inconsequenceofthis,thefortatHonoluluwasfilledwithagreatnumberofyounggirls,whowereconfinedtheredoingpenancefortheirslipsfromvirtue。Paulet,althoughatfirstunwillingtointerferewithregulationshavingreferencesolelytothenativesthemselves,waseventually,bytheprevalenceofcertainreports,inducedtoinstituteastrictinquiryintotheinternaladministrationofGeneralKekuanoa,governoroftheislandofOahu,oneofthepillarsoftheHawaiianChurch,andcaptainofthefort。Hesoonascertainedthatnumbersoftheyoungfemalesemployedduringthedayatworkintendedforthebenefitoftheking,wereatnightsmuggledovertherampartsofthefort-whichononesidedirectlyoverhangsthesea-andwereconveyedbystealthonboardsuchvesselsashadcontractedwiththeGeneraltobesuppliedwiththem。
Beforedaybreaktheyreturnedtotheirquarters,andtheirownsilencewithregardtothesesecretexcursionswaspurchasedbyasmallportionofthosewagesofiniquitywhichwereplacedinthehandsofKekuanoa。
Thevigourwithwhichthelawsconcerninglicentiousnesswereatthatperiodenforced,enabledtheGeneraltomonopoliseinagreatmeasurethedetestabletradeinwhichhewasengaged,andthereconsequentlyflowedintohiscoffers-andsomesayintothoseofthegovernmentalso-considerablesumsofmoney。ItisindeedalamentablefactthattheprincipalrevenueoftheHawaiiangovernmentisderivedfromthefinesleviedupon,orratherthelicencestakenoutbyVice,theprosperityofwhichislinkedwiththatofthegovernment。Werethepeopletobecomevirtuoustheauthoritieswouldbecomepoor;butfrompresentindicationsthereislittleapprehensiontobeentertainedonthatscore。
Somefivemonthsafterthedateofthecession,theDublinfrigate,carryingtheflagofRear-AdmiralThomas,enteredtheharbourofHonolulu。Theexcitementthathersuddenappearanceproducedonshorewasprodigious。ThreedaysafterherarrivalanEnglishsailorhauleddowntheredcrosswhichhadbeenflyingfromtheheightsofthefort,andtheHawaiiancolourswereagaindisplayeduponthesamestaff。Atthesamemomentthelong42-poundersuponPunchbowlHillopenedtheirironthroatsintriumphantreplytothethundersofthefivemen-of-warintheharbour;andKingKammahammahaIII,surroundedbyasplendidgroupofBritishandAmericanofficers,unfurledtheroyalstandardtoassembledthousandsofhissubjects,who,attractedbytheimposingmilitarydisplayoftheforeigners,hadflockedtowitnesstheformalrestorationoftheislandstotheirancientrulers。
Theadmiral,aftersanctioningtheproceedingofhissubaltern,hadbroughttheauthoritiestoterms;andsoremovedthenecessityofactinganylongerundertheprovisionalcession。
Theeventwasmadeanoccasionofriotousrejoicingbythekingandtheprincipalchiefs,whoeasilysecuredadisplayofenthusiasmfromtheinferiororders,byremittingforatimetheaccustomedseverityofthelaws。RoyalproclamationsinEnglishandHawaiianwereplacardedinthestreetsofHonolulu,andpostedupinthemorepopulousvillagesofthegroup,inwhichHisMajestyannouncedtohislovingsubjectsthere-establishmentofhisthrone,andcalleduponthemtocelebrateitbybreakingthroughallmoral,legal,andreligiousrestraintfortenconsecutivedays,duringwhichtimeallthelawsofthelandweresolemnlydeclaredtobesuspended。
WhothathappenedtobeatHonoluluduringthosetenmemorabledayswilleverforgetthem!Thespectacleofuniversalbroad-daydebauchery,whichwasthenexhibited,beggarsdescription。ThenativesofthesurroundingislandsflockedtoHonolulubyhundreds,andthecrewsoftwofrigates,opportunelyletlooselikesomanydemonstoswelltheheathenishuproar,gavethecrowningflourishtothescene。ItwasasortofPolynesiansaturnalia。Deedstooatrocioustobementionedweredoneatnoon-dayintheopenstreet,andsomeoftheislanders,caughtintheveryactofstealingfromtheforeigners,were,onbeingtakentothefortbytheaggrievedparty,sufferedimmediatelytogoatlargeandtoretainthestolenproperty-
Kekuanoainformingthewhitemen,withasardonicgrin,thatthelawswere“hannapa“tiedup。
ThehistoryofthesetendaysrevealsintheirtruecoloursthecharacteroftheSandwichislanders,andfurnishesaneloquentcommentaryontheresultswhichhaveflowedfromthelaboursofthemissionaries。Freedfromtherestraintofseverepenallaws,thenativesalmosttoamanhadplungedvoluntarilyintoeveryspeciesofwickednessandexcess,andbytheirutterdisregardofalldecencyplainlyshowedthat,althoughtheyhadbeenschooledintoaseemingsubmissiontotheneworderofthings,theywereinrealityasdepravedandviciousasever。
SuchweretheeventswhichproducedinAmericasogeneralanoutbreakofindignationagainstthespiritedandhigh-mindedPaulet。
Heisnotthefirstmanwho,inthefearlessdischargeofhisduty,hasawakenedthesenselessclamoursofthosewhosenarrow-mindedsuspicionsblindthemtoaproperappreciationofmeasureswhichunusualexigenciesmayhaverenderednecessary。
ItisalmostneedlesstoaddthattheBritishcabinetneverhadanyideaofappropriatingtheislands;anditfurnishesasufficientvindicationoftheactsofLordGeorgePaulet,thathenotonlyreceivedtheunqualifiedapprobationofhisowngovernment,butthattothishourthegreatbodyoftheHawaiianpeopleinvokeblessingsonhishead,andlookbackwithgratitudetothetimewhenhisliberalandpaternalswaydiffusedpeaceandhappinessamongthem。
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