Historical Collections of The Hawaiian Islands - Kamehameha  l  (Part 9)

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Historical Collections of The Hawaiian Islands
" Keepers of the Culture "
A study in time of the Hawaiian Islands
Kamehameha  l 
and stories told by the ancients -- part 9
Archibald Campbell
Death of Isaac Davis -- Apirl, 1810
The Russians.
by Darlene E. Kelley
November 11, 2000

http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374

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As told by the ancients -- Part 9.

Archibald Campbell. [ 1787--1821 ].

Archibald Campbell was a weaver, and the captain of the ship which
brought him to the Islands told Kamehameha that Campbell could not only
make sails for him but could also make the cloth from which the sails
were made. This interested the king very much as he needed sails. Under
Campbell's direction Kaehameha had a loom made and the King often set on
Campbell's doorstep to watch him work and listen to his stories, which
he loved to listen

He was born near Glasgow, Scotland. He ran away to sea at the age of
fourteen. He made various voyages before losing both feet from frostbite
while wrecked on the coast of Alaska.
He arrived in Hawaii in 1809 on the Russian Imperial ship, Neva, and was
employed as a sailmaker for Kamhameha l. He was a great story teller and
recorded much for the Historians for a number of discriptions of
Kamehameha l during the height of the Kings power, as well of accounts
of native customs as seen from the view point of a wandering Scotsman.
Here he wote and published his first book called " Voyage around the
World from 1806 to 1812. " With the proceeds of his book he went to New
York and started a small business. Here he published another book called
" The Restless Voyage."

Kamahameha would show the sail cloth to the captains and men who
arrived, telling them, with great pride, that his Islands had produced
it.

Campbell writes, in speaking of the King;" He desired me to give his
compliments to King George. I told him that born in his dominions, I had
never seen King George, and that even in the city where he lived there
were thousands who had never seen him. he expressed much surprise at
this an asked if he did not go out among his people to learn their
wants, as he did. I answered that he did not do it himself, but he had
other men do it for him. Kamehameha shook his head at this and said that
other people could never do it as well as he could himself. Kamehameha
sent a letter and a cape to the King by Captain Spence,saying he was
sorry he was so far away and could not help him in his wars." After the
coming of Vancouver, Kamehamha had placed the utmost confidence in
England's King and in England's friendship for, and protection of, the
Sandwich Islands.

As ship after ship from foreign countries came and sailed again out
beyond the Islands reefs, Kamehameha became not only intelligent
regardng the outside world of men and affairs, but also alert as to what
their meaning meant to him. The Islands were still a busy market for
sandalwood and for many other commodities. The foreign traders were much
alarmed for fear there would be a war between Kamehameha and the Kauai
King. While they admired Kaumualii and appreciated his friendliness,
they realized that, should the Islands be torn with rebellion as they
had been in the past, their business interests would materially suffer.
As Vancouver had repeatedly done, they taked with both kings, urging
them for their own sakes to be friends.

Fullfillment --  1810.

It was not until 1810 that the Kauai matter was settled. Kamehameha said
again that he would be satisfied if Kaumualii would acknowledge him the
ruler of all the islands and pay to him an annual tribute. After much
pressure from foreign friends, and fully realizing that he could not
successfully meet Kamehameha in battle, he finally agreed to
Kamehameja's proposition.
But Kamehameha also insisted that Kaumaualli
come in person to Oahu and offer submission to him. Recalling the fate
of Keoua Kuahuula, the Kauai king was not inclined to make the trip.
An American trader, Captain Winship, after talking with him, offered to
leave his mate on Kauai as an assurance of good faith if the Kng would
go with him to Oahu as Kamehameha had requested. So the two Kings,
Kamehameha and Kaumualii met face to face.
It was agreed that Kauai should become a tributary kingdom, but that
Kaumualii should continue to rule that island while acknowledging
Kamehameha as his sovereign.

Isacca Davis's Death -- April, 1810.

The chiefs were not all pleased with this arrangment. A secret plan was
made to kill Kaumualii, while he was on Oahu. Isacc Davis, learning of
the plot, warned Kaumualii. Not waiting to attend the feast which was
planned in his honor, he slipped away and sailed for Kauai. It is said
the poison which was designed for Kaumualii was given to Isacc Davis.
Isaac Davis suddenly died. He was buried in Honolulu. On his tombstone
was placed the inscription;
 
"The remains of 
Isaac Davis
who died on this Island
April, 1810
Aged 52 years "

Isaac Davis had been one of Kamehameha's closest friends, and advisor.
His death was a great shock to Kamehameha and cast a dark shadow over
the satisfaction which the King must have felt with the settlement of
the Kauai
matter and the fact that he could continue his plans for the further
development of the entire group of islands under hs own direction.
Kamehameha's great ambition was to promote an increasing trade between
Hwaii and outside powers, and to do so on the basis of friendliness and
exchange.

In 1804, two ships had been seen cruising along the island coasts. These
ships were unfamiliar in Hawaiian waters. Russia had sent them on a
round-the-world voyage, and the vessels hoped to secure supplies in the
Sandwich Islands. They were named the
Hope and the Neva. The Hope was crowed for time and oblidged to hurry on
to Japan, but the Neva stopped over in Hawaii.She remained five days at
Kealakekua Bay. The Captain met John Young and, through him, obtained
the supplies they needed. Hoping to see Kamehameha, Captain Lisiansky
decide to go on to Oahu, but learning that a terrible disease was raging
on tha island, he changed his course and sailed to Kauai and soon left
the Islands without meeting Kamehameha. Captain Lisiansky said in his
report that he was under the opinion that the islands would not remain
long in their present barbarous state. That they had made great
advancement towards civilization since their discovery and especially
during the reign of the present KIng.

The Russian American Company, dealers in furs, had long been established
in Alaska. It had not been a very satisfactory experiment.
The people were suffering for want of food almost to the point of
starvation. Alexander Baranov, the governor of the company, had learned
of the possibility of resources in the Hawaiin Islands and, through the
traders coming and going, both north and south, Kamehameha had heard of
the needs of the Russians in the great Northwest. He sent word to
Baranov that he would be glad to send one ship every year with swine,
salt, sweet potatoes, and other articles of food if, in exchange the
governor would let hm have sea otter at a reasonable price. But Baranov
had other plans. In 1810 the Neva returned to the islands for a cargo of
salt. It was on this vessel that the aforementioned Archibald Campbell
arrived in Hawaii.