Historical Collections of The Hawaiian Islands - Kamehameha  l  (Part 13)

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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 13
by Darlene E. Kelley
November 17, 2000

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

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As told by the ancients -- Part 13.

In 1814, Governor Baranov sent another ship to the islands for supplies.
The Captain was cheerfully supplied with what he wanted at Honolulu and
he sailed for home, but on the Kauai coast his vessel was driven ashore
and wrecked by a storm. The Captain gave the wrecked ship to the King of
Kauai in appreciation for his having assisted in saving the cargo; this,
too, he left in the care of the King and took the first oppotunity to
return to New Archangel.

Whether Baranov was laying definate plans for a Russian settlement in
Hawaii, and, perhaps, hoping to secure the control of one of the
islands, is not known, but developments point to that direction. In
1815, a german doctor, George Anton Scheffer, arrived on an American
ship called the Isabella,having been sent to the islands by Baranov. He
introduced himself as a botanist wishing to study the interesting plant
life in Hawaii. Kamehameha was at once interested in the doctor's
scientific work. He built for him a fine grass house set in a grove of
breadfruit trees, where the doctor could work in quitetude as he pursued
his studies. This intercourse between Kamehameha and the doctor was, at
all times, friendly and understanding, or so it seemed to the King. He
was especially grateful to Scheffer for having cured him of a miserable
cold, and for sucessfully treated Queen Kaahumanu of an illness. So,
Kamehameha was greatly surprised when three more Russian ships stopped
at Hawaii and the doctor decided to leave. He sailed on one of the
vessels for the island of Kauai and there took up his residence.

Disloyal to the friendship which Kamehameha had given him, Scheffer
gradually prejudiced the Kauai King against Kamehameha, telling him the
Russians were his best friends and would help him get back his
independence. He suggested the King Kaumualii that, with the assistance
of the Russians, the King might get control of the island of Oahu. He
persuaded Kaumualii to sign a written statement placing himself and his
people under the protection of the Russian Emperor. Scheffer was
responsible for the Russian's building a fort, which may still be seen
today a Waimea on Kauai, and over the fort he raised the Russian flag.

Through the influence of Dr. Scheffer, Kaumualii gave the Russian
American Company the right to export sandalwood from
Kauai, and also to erect buildings and establish plantations on the
island. The doctor then turned his attention to Oahu. He built a
blockhouse or fort on the waterfront at Honolulu, at the foot of what is
now Fort Street.

While in Honolulu, the Russians invaded a heiau during a sacred taboo
and did much damage. Word of this reached Kamehameha on Hawaii. He at
once sent several chiefs to Oahu with orders to expel the Russians from
the island. They were forced to leave, but threatened to return with a
Russian man-of-war and to conquer the Islands.

From evidence available it is believed that the Russian Government had
not at any time authorized Governor Baranov to lay plans to establish a
base in Hawaii with the idea of eventually getting control of the
islands. The attitude of the Russian Government is emphasized by the
coming of the Ruvik to Hawaii. This small ship had been sent out to
discover, if possible, the long sought passage around the American
continent from the Pacific to the Atlantic. The Captain of this vessel
was Otto von Kotzebue, who became a valued acquaintance of Kamehameha.
Before leaving Russia, Captain Kotzebue requested that the Rurik be
equipped with guns, and he flew the Russian war flag as a protection in
case of unexpected trouble in far seas. When he reached Hawaii, these
guns aroused fear of the Hawaiians. The Russians had returned, and,
fearing trouble, Kamehameha stationed soldiers along the coast ready for
any emergency.

With Captain Kotzebue were several important men. Among them was
Adelbert von Chamisso, the naturalist, and Louis Choris, the Russian
artist, to whom history is indebted for a rare portrait of Kamehameha l.
Another voyager was John Elliot, who had been to the islands before and
acted as surgeon to the King. Elliot, evidently, had prepared the
Russian visitors for their reception in the islands. As they approached
Hawaii, the young men were much impressed with the beauty of the
landscape, and Chamisso tells that, from out at sea, they could discern
the European built houses of John Young towering above the grass shacks
of the native people.

When Kamehameha learned that the Rurik was a friendly ship, he invited
the Capatin and his firiends to come ashore. A small boat was first put
over with Chamisso, Choris, and the ship's doctor, who proceded Captain
Kotzebue in landing. It was Chamisso who describs his impression: the
view from the village set among palm trees, the lava flow, and the great
cone of Mataroi { Mauna Loa } beyond. " On the shore countless people
were under arms. The old King, in front of whose house we landed, was
sitting on a raised terrace surrounded by his wives, dressed in native
costume, the red malo
[ girdle ] and the black tapa [ the wide, beautifully folded cape of
bark cloth ]. The only things he had borrowed from Europeans were shoes
and a straw hat. In front of the King, on a lower level, sat all of his
subordinates with uncovered shoulders.

" The old gentleman gladly welcomed his old doctor, through without
overflowing signs of pleasure, and allowed him to explain the friendly
purpose of our expedition. " The party then waited for Captain Kotzebue
to arrive. While they were waiting, Chamisso asked to be allowed to do a
little botanizing, and Choris, the artist, stayed beind in order to draw
the King's picture. Chamisso, started out on his botanizing trip. he
tells later of having met a chief on the way.

" A chief, coming toward us, whom we could not fail to recognize as
such, because of his bearing and almost gigantic build, brandished his
spear in our direction, playfully, as we met on the path, laughing the
while, and then shook my hand with a friendly greeting, ' Aloha.' The
chief said, " We thought we were to fight and now you come as good
friends.' Our guide yelled and danced like a jointed doll. Such is the
way of these people; they are happy as children and one soon becomes
like them while living amongst them. Here in these Islands laughter had
no spirit of malice. Each laughs at the other, King or subject, without
prejudice because of difference in rank."

Kotzebue also describes his reception by Kamehameha:

" I now stood beside the famous Kamehameha, whose deportment and
unrestrained reations inspired me wih the greatest of confidence." The
Captain tells that when he and his men landed, Kamehameha, accompanied
by his warriors, met him at the landing place and shook him heartily by
the hand. He then took the Captain and his friends to his thatched
palace " which after a fashion of the country consisted of one single
room. We were offered some pretty European chairs an a mahogany table
was set before us. Although the King had several houses built in
European style he prefers this simple habitation, not wshing to infringe
upon the manner of the country; everything he considers useful he
imitates and endeavors to make the people adopt it; stone palaces he
considers superfluous. the thatched homes being more comfortable, and he
wished to increase the happiness and not the wants of his subjects."

Captain Kotzebue further explains; " The King having poured out for us
some very good wine, and having himself drunk to our health, I
acquainted him with my intention of supplying myself here with water and
food. A dexterous, and tolerably well imformed young man, was the only
white person in attendance on the King and spoke the language of the
country with perfect ease. Kamehameha directed him to speak of the
incidents of the other Russians that had come before. Asking if they had
come in peace or if the Emporor was to try also to invade them. However
he told them he would supply them gratuitously with everything the
islands produced.

Kamehameha. was assured that the Russian Emperor knew nothing of the
situation and had no intention of conquering the Islands. He was greatly
pleased, and drank to the health of the Emperor. Captain Kotzebue
comments that the interpreter could not always translate Kamehameha's
words, " which being peculiar to the Hawaiian language, and so witty, it
frequently set his ministers to laughing."

After this audience with Kamehameha, he invited the party with him to
call upon the Queens, and also upon the Crown Prince, Liholiho, at his
own palace. From there they went to the temple. At the entrance,
Kamehameha stopped to embrace one of the statues, saying to Captain
Kotzebue. " These are our gods which I worship; whether I do right or
wrong in thus worshiping them, I know not, but I follow my religion
which can not be bad since it teaches me t do no wrong." At another
time, in speaking of his religion, Kamehameha made the statement, "
These shall be my Gods for they have power, and by them I have become
possessed of this government and through them I come into my throne."

Dinner followed the visit to the temple. The King commented; " I have
seen how the Russians eat, now you may satisfy your curiosity by seeing
how Kamehameha eats." The manner of eating may have surprised the men
from Russia, but Kotzebue explains that Kamehameha followed the usual
Hawaiian customs " with dignity," and said; " This is the custom of my
country and I will not deviate from it."

" After having drunk the health of each of us in English fashion, he
called upon us to drink the health of our Emperor; this being done, one
of the ministers handed me a feather tippet, made with great skill, and
which was formally worn by the King himself, on solemn ocasions, the
King telling me himself through the interperter, although he spoke
English pretty well himself, 
' I have heard that your monarch is a great hero: I love him for it.
because I am one myself. I send him this tippet as a proof of my
affection."