Journey of the sloop Good Intent to explore the Asiatic and American shores of Bering Strait, 1819 to 1822. Part three

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Typescript of Chapter Five for a book Dorothy Jean Ray planned to write about the Vasilev-Shishmarev Expedition of 1819-1822. Contains the translation from the Russian by Rhea Josephson of part three of Karl K. Hillsen's journal, Journey of the sloop "Good Intent" to explore the Asiatic and American shores of Bering Strait, 1819 to 1822 (Puteshestvie na shliup︠i︡e Blagonam︠i︡erennyĭ dl︠i︡a issl︠i︡edovani︠i︡a beregov Azii i Ameriki za Beringovym prolivom s 1819 po 1822 goda).

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and his retinue joined. This procedure continued for about a half hour. After that, the king turned everybody out of the room and got on his knees beside his stepmother, who, after talking with him, requested a doctor from us. Mr. Kovalev, the doctor from the "Discovery," was with us. He immediately went to work and in a few days cured the queen. She was a woman about 50 years old and a real giant. When we entered, she was still being pummeled by the women as she lay on the floor.

Having sat, or rather, having stood for some time, because there was nothing to sit on except on the floor, the king went into his hut and invited us with him. Getting there, the first thing he did was to remove all his clothing consisting of a white flannel jacket, of the same for breeches; a shirt, shoes, and a round straw hat. In place of all these, he put on his maro, a kind of narrow belt, one end of which passes between the legs and is attached on the back to the same belt. This maro constitutes the only clothing of men, and is made of a fabric of local manufacture prepared from the bark of papyrus [paper mulberry] in the following manner. Pulling the bark off the tree, they soak it in lime water for about two weeks. After that, taking it out, they stretch it on boards and fold the edges together in a width that they need in their fabric. Afterward, they beat it with flat beaters, pouring with the same water until it becomes as thing as paper. They dry it in this shape in the sun and then rub it with their hands until it becomes soft. They paint it with various

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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 Frenchman 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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footgear. Behind the king, the queen, and each of the lords was a servant carrying a spitton. With the king this day in the capacity of interpreter was the Spaniard, Marini. They all went down into the cabins, sat at the table with us, and ate our food with great appetite, not forgetting, however, their favorite taro, brought along by them. They did not drink much wine, but mostly rum, so that almost all of them were drunk on getting up from the table. The king, on departing, invited us for dinner day after next. He was saluted with nine shots, to which from the yacht and later from the fortress were wanswered by as many. On the designated day, we went to the king. The table, set in the European manner in one of his large huts, glistened with a great quantity of silver and crystal. The dinner was in the English style. Besides us, there were the missionaries, the Europeans of the island, and three captains of American vessels. On this day, the king was dressed in a naval uniform of an English general. The master of ceremonies was the Frenchman, Rivés, and the food was prepared by the book of one of the American vessels. The wines were excellent. During the dinner we drank to the health of our emperor, the king, and the American nation. From this can be seen that he tried to take over the customs of civilized nations, but it did not suit him. He did not even know how to sit on a chair, and never used a spoon, a knife, or a fork.

The military might of the king consisted of a few thousnad

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soldiers distributed on all the islands. They were fitted out in red English uniforms, but without breeches or headdress. It was impossible to look at them without laughing, because with their red skin they resembled dressed-up monkeys. Forty thousand guns were kept in a fortress built on a hill beyond the settlement of Hanaruro. There, too, were several field pieces with caissons belonging to them and all other appurtenances. The fleet consisted of nine frigates and four schooners, including the yacht. These vessels were commanded by the English, and the sailors were the natives. The captains could not find enough praise for the dexterity and intelligence of these people. The sailing of Hawaiin vessels extended not only to the islands, but they sailed even to Canton. For the coming summer, the king wanted to send a brig with salt to Kamchatka and to take from there salted and dried fish, which the Hawaiins like very much, but do not know how to prepare..

The incomes of the king were not definite and depended on the circumstances because there were no regular taxes or collections. When the king needed money, he ordered a new hut built for him and the old one demolished. Having moved, he placed large clay pots at the doors, near which stood guards and one of the king's retinue. Throughout the whole island messengers were sent with information about it and every male citizen more than ten years old was obliged to deposit a Spanish piaster in the pot. This collection was repeated two or three times a year on every island, depending on the needs

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of the king, since the island on which he had his residence had to support with food supplies a large court and the king. The king often moves from one island to another, but mostly he lives on Hawaii and Vahu. That is why the other islands must sometimes send provisions to the king's residence. The other income consisted of the sale of sandalwood, dispatched for cash or exchanged for various goods. Sandalwood grows in abundance on all the islands and belongs esclusively to the king. The American traders pay him from five to seven piasters per picul [a picul equals 133 1/3 pounds], and sell it in Canton for nine or eleven. This wood is so heavy that a piece of it one sazhen in length and not more than three vershkas wide [a little more than five inches] makes a picul. From the trade of sandal, the king received from 30,000 to 40,000 piasters.

The third income was from salt gathered in abundance on the seashore. Sandalwood was not chopped with axes, but sawed so as not to waste wood by making chips. This work and the gathering of salt was done under orders by the common people. The post of Minister of Finance was filled by the Spaniard, Marini, and the Frenchman, Rivés, who cheated the king as much as they could. This was very easy for them because there was no one to check, and there was no question about the correct expenditures and receipts in the management. Marini conducted the sale of sandalwood and salt, turning over to the king as much as he wanted. So that the merchants would not discover his deceptions, he divided with them. Rivés was, so to speak, the state treasurer. Cheating along with

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