Three Accounts of the Vasil'ev-Shismarev Expedition of 1819-1822

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[ Mauna Loa ], Mona-Kaa [ Mauna Kea ], and Mono-Morotai [Puu Hualalei] . The first one is 8,700 feet above sea level and is located on the northeastern [southwestern] end of the island. Next in size is Mono-Kaa, located at the southern [northern] end, and finally, Mono-Morotai on the northwestern, not far from Kiarakua [Kealakekua] Bay, famous for the death of Cook.²

When we crossed the mentioned strait about two o'clock in the afternoon and took refuge behind the island of Hawaii; its heights shielded us from the wind and we were completely becalmed. Standing in one place, we had time to contemplate the beautiful charming landscapes presented by these islands. To begin with, a low shore starts gradually to rise at a certain distance, reaching to the highest mountains, and varying from darkest to light vegetation until it disappears completely. The top of the mountains present to the eye a view of naked rocks flowed over by lava, whose long hardened streams extend, in places, all the way to the seashore where the houses, or rather, the huts, of the natives are located, surrounded by coconut groves, and banana and bread fruit trees. In short, the view is so enchanting that one cannot have enough of it. A light breeze blowing now and then from the shore brought us the fragrance, but our impatience to get on a land that was capable of producing such aromas, was futile--the wind would not let us get closer to Kiarakua Bay, almost the only anchoring place near the island. In addition, thinking that in the settlement of the same name or in the nearest one to it

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called Tiatatua we would find the king of these islands, there was no need to look for another place where it was possible to anchor.

On the next day, that is, on the 18th of February [read March] we succeeded in approaching the harbor to such a distance that we could, with thenaked eye, distinguish people standing on shore, but still we could not reach the bottom of the sea with the lead. Lieutenant Lazarev had an excellent dog of the Newfoundland species. On approaching the shore it constantly lay on the net, avidly sniffing the shore aromas, but finally, not contented with seeing itself so close to shore, leaped overboard into the sea and started swimming. No shouts or curses could induce it to return. With the natural facility of this species, it swam farther and farther, paying no attention to us. We watched it through the telescopes, and saw that it reached shore safely although we were more than two miles away from it.

The "Discovery" was in front of us closer to Kiarakua Bay, and, taking advantage of a streak of wind hitting the sails, succeeded in entering the harbor and casting anchor, whereas we, becalmed, turned around on the spot, carried only by the current.

We found ourselves in this position until the morning of the 19th. Then we saw that our comrade weighed anchor again, and we despaired of getting to shore. But soon the "Discovery" approached us and dispersed our fears, saying