mss142-vasilevShishmarev-i5-017
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very brilliant vegetable colors. Having undressed, the king
lay down on the mats and invited us to do the same. Then he
started to inquire of us through the interpreter, the French-
man Rivés, about Russia, whereby he expressed a desire to visit
the Emperor Alexander; about our American colonies, known to
him from the expedition of some fortune hunter, Doctor Sheffer
[Georg Anton Shäffer], who presuaded the manager Baranov [of
the Russian-American Company] that there was nothing easier
than to occupy Vahu Island from which he was exiled by the
late father of the king; and finally, about the purpose of
our expedition, which he could in no way understand, and asked,
what concern is it of our Emperor whether water or land are
found in the North? Our captains asked his permission to
set up tents on shore for astronomical observations, and he
immediately ordered a place set aside for us on the right side
of the fortress. When we wanted to take our leave, he took it
into his head to invite us to his yacht. He got dressed again,
and went with us on our tender. On the yacht, we were treated
to wine and fruit. When we left, he ordered a salute of five
shots, which were answered by as many from the "Discovery."
The next day, His Hawaiin Majesty honored us with his
visit. He appeared in the uniform of a British admiral in a
straw hat and in shoes [without stockings]. He was accompanied by
the above mentioned Kraimoku, Governor Poki, like the king,
in the uniform of the English fleet, and his favorite wife,
Kamehameha [Kamamalu] in a white satin dress although her hair
was made up in the Hawaiin manner, and her feet were without
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