Under Hawaiian skies, a narrative of the romance, adventure and history of the Hawaiian Islands, a complete historical account, by Albert Pierce Taylor.

182

182 ~UNDER HAWAIIAN SKIES

have (lisiputed for decades, preferrig to ive the date of discovery as January 16, 17178, hy Captain Cook. A Spanish chart
shows a group of islands in the Pacific, hut not in the latitude
of tile -Islallds as at present known.
Thle Archives has the retained copy of Kanlehanieha's letter
to George ITT announcingT his fealty to the British king. While
this letter conveys the imiplied cession of the entire group (tile
so-calledl cession at tile tille of Vancouver'Is visit being that of
the island of Hawvaii only), it is more in the phraseology than in
tile intent. A perusal of tile letter clearly shows tilat the king's
am~anuensis was not a person of education, the- spelling- being decidedfly off. The following is tile letter in full:
"Hius Most Sacred Majesty George Ill
of tile -United Kingdom of Great Britain &
Irelandi, King, Defender of the faith, &c., &c., &c.
"Brotiler-We, Kanlaah. Maah, King of the Sandwich Islands,
Wishinill to rend~er every assistance to, the ships of His Most
sacredl M.ajesty's subjects who visit those [these] sea's, have seilt
a letter by Capt. Spence. silip Duke of Portlanid, to, Iis Majesty.
Since wihichl, Tinloree (Katimutaiii), king of Aztooi (Katiai), has
deliiveredl Iis island up, and( we are now ill tile possession of the
wihole of the Sandwich Islailds. WNe, as subjects of His Most
sacrci M1\ajesty. wisil to Ilave a seal alld arms seilt from Britain
so tilat tileir Ilay lbe 110 llolestatioli to our Silips or Vessels in
those Sea's or any hindrance wllatsoever.
"\Vishing- y\our Majesty a longr & ihappv reign, I a1l Brother,
"S igund) KAM\~AA11\H MAAH.
"Woailoo, August 6th, 1810."'
T1here was evidently some misunderstanding ill relation to; these
so-calledl cessions. Tilat Kamlellanlela rigtllty unlderstood the
nlleaning of tile \vorl "cessionf" is (doubltful. Wviat le appears
to have waiited was protectioll, both ill iis dealinlgs witih Vancouver aild ill tile letter to Georgre ITIT and lhad 110 idea of suirrend~erinlg Ilis own sovereignlty.
A_ letter fromi the Earl of I~verpool, (latedl April 30, 1812,~
ackilowledges the receipt of one from tile k~ingo datedl March 3,