WAIMEA HARBOR. 231 oms of the young Hawaiians, as it did in the soul of SAPPHO when she composed her matchless " Odes," or died so tragical a death for the love of PHAON. Several times I have seen a muscular youth, sitting opposite his lovely inamorata, moving his light canoe over the calm waters of this stream, and drinking in the soul-fire that beamed in her eyes. It was a bright scene! And his own eyes seemed as bright, and his arm as strong and active, while he paid her his attentions, as though the Golden Age-of which we love frequently to dream—had come back with all its glory and purity to this fallen world. But most of this bright imagery is mutable and of short duration, and there are not a few who can say, "Alas! our young affections run to waste, The harbor of Waimea is merely an open roadstead. It is, however, the best anchorage on the shores of the island, and is deemed perfectly safe for vessels of a large class, except in the months of January and February, when the trade-winds are interrupted by heavy southwest winds. The historical reminiscences which cluster around this harbor and village are of deep interest to a traveler. They speak of bold, intrepid men-explorers of new realms-who have come here at various periods, and gone away forever. The renowned Cook anchored first in this harbor when he first discovered the group in January, 1778. The great and good VANCOUVER was here in 1792. It was visited by the United States Exploring Expedition in 1840. Cook has many times been charged by writers—but by none more than missionaries-with two glaring faults, namely, a clandestine appropriation to his own use of a set of maps and charts found in a Spanish galleon that was captured by Lord ANSON in 1748, and also as having introduced syphilis into the group of islands. The first of these charges is decidedly improbable; the second is exceedingly questionable. So many writers have trodden the same path in asserting these charges, that at this late day, it may seem the height of presumption to attempt their refutation. But justice to truth in great historical events, demands at least a passing notice. The vessel said to have been captured by Lord ANSON is described as being bound "from Manilla to the Russian settlements in America. On its way from America," it was seized. It is also stated, that on her outward voyage this galleon discovered "certain islands, whose latitude agreed with that of Hawaii. The name given them on the chart was Los Monjes. As they were in the same latitude, and in the route from Manilla to Russian America, it is believed that they were the Sandwich Islands."* The latter portion of this paragraph is entirely vague. A mere belief that the "Los Monjes" were the Sandwich Islands did not render them so. It is thoroughly understood that modern navigation has corrected the geographical positions laid down by many of the early explorers of the Pacific Ocean. It is equally true that the locations assigned by Cook to his discoveries have been subsequently found to be correct. This nice accuracy is a noble comment on the splendid genius of that distinguished navigator Whoever carefully reads the narratives of his voyages will discover a singular magnanimity of character, a truthfulness of description, and a singleness of purpose, which are seldom copied by men having so much under their command as Cook had. He had candor enough to acknowledge his indebtedness to aid received from any source opened by previous navigators; and no man was ever more conscious than himself that such an acknowledgment could not have detracted from his justly merited fame. That he was the discoverer of the Sandwich group is evident from *Hawaiian Spectator, vol. ii., p. 61. CHARGES AGAINST COOK. 233 the authority of the natives themselves; and, in this instance, such authority is ample. But there are stronger considerations than these. As these islands are said to have been the "Los Monjes" of the early Spaniards, and as they were located immediately en route from Panama, Acapulco, Mazatlan, and other Spanish American ports—in which great commercial interests were sustained -to Manilla and other Eastern ports, is it reasonable to admit that they would fail to render this group a half-way depôt for their commerce across this ocean? Had they failed to take this step, they certainly would have called here for water; for at that period, vessels used to contain water at sea were any thing but perfect and convenient, and a frequent supply, during those long voyages, could not but be of vital importance to the crews and commanders of those vessels. If we admit many exceptions that have been urged against the probability of these theories, there are others of still greater moment. They are facts, however, rather than theories. It has been stated that the Spaniards kept their knowledge of the navigation of these seas a profound secret from the rest of the commercial world.* In this instance, and for a short period, it might have been done with a view to monopolize the commerce between the western coast of America and the east coast of Asia, as a means of filling the coffers of Spain through her colonies in the West. And yet such a step could not long have been retained a secret; nor would it have accorded with the national character of Spain at that period, much less would it have been consonant with the boastful pageantry of the then ruling monarch. From the time of the conquest of Granada by FERDINAND the CATHOLIC, Spain has not been backward to boast her conquests and possessions, her arts and sciences. The discoveries made by the great * "The Manilla ships are the only ones which have traversed this vast ocean, except a French straggler or two; and during near two ages, in which this trade has been carried on, the Spaniards have, with the greatest care, secreted all accounts of their voyages."-Introduction to Lord Anson's Voyages, p. 15. London, 1748. |