an explanatory interview on board his ship, all matters were compromised to the mutual satisfaction of both parties.[1]
Following this diplomatic excursion to Kaui, Captain Brown visited the island of Hawaii, where he left with John Young[2] a letter for Captain Vancouver, giving an account of a number of foreign sailors, principally English and American, who had taken up their residence on the islands of Oahu and Kauai, where they had acquired much influence. These foreigners are variously referred to as "vagabonds" and "renegadoes," and, according to Brown, their presence at the leeward islands constituted a serious menace to visiting vessels, for "by the bad advice, and far worse example, of these people, the natives of most of the leeward islands had arrived at such a degree of daring insolence, as rendered any communication with them from small vessels, or even anchoring near the shores, highly dangerous." As an instance of the danger referred to, Brown stated that these renegades had formed a plan with the natives of Kauai to scuttle and capture the American brig Hancock, which had recently called at that island. Fortunately the plan miscarried. This letter was received by Vancouver in January, 1794, about a month after Brown's visit to the island of Hawaii.[3]
Having concluded his business at the islands Captain Brown sailed for Canton, probably in December, 1793,
- ↑ Vancouver, op. cit., V, 125-126; Hiram Bingham, Residence of Twenty-one years in the Sandwich Islands (Hartford, 1847), 45.
- ↑ John Young was an English sailor who, while employed as boatswain of the American ship Eleanora, Simon Metcalfe, master, was virtually kidnapped by the natives of Hawaii in March, 1790. Though at first he tried to escape, Young soon became reconciled to his situation. He was a friend and trusted adviser of Kamehameha until the death of the latter and is frequently referred to in the Hawaiian accounts as "the king's foreigner." While not highly educated, he possessed common sense and good judgment and, what was more important, a sound character. His name is usually coupled with that of Isaac Davis, who had a somewhat similar history.
- ↑ Vancouver, op. cit., V, 113-114; New Vancouver Journal (MS) entry for Jan. 20, 1794.
