ards Mr
Ismyloff, the principal person in the island, arrived. Through him Cook
transmitted to the Admiralty a letter enclosing a chart of his
discoveries. Intending to make another attempt to find the
long-sought-for passage, Cook returned to the Sandwich Islands. On the
26th of November he discovered Mowee, lying farther west than the
islands before visited, and on the evening of the 30th a much larger
island to windward, called Owhyhee or Hawaii. Several weeks were passed
in sailing round this island in search of a harbour. At length the
ships came to an anchor, on the morning of January 17th, 1779, in
Karakavoa. Here a vast number of people were assembled to witness, to
them, the so novel spectacle. Multitudes came off in canoes, crowding
into the ships, many hundreds swimming round like shoals of fish, and
the shores were thronged with eager spectators, who expressed their
pleasure in shouts, songs, and various extravagant motions. It was
supposed they fancied Captain Cook to be their god Rono, who after a
long absence had returned to their island. At the time this he of
course did not know, or he would not have received the worship paid to
him. No sooner was the _Resolution_ moored, than two chiefs came,
accompanied by a priest named Koah, who approached the captain with much
veneration, and threw over his shoulders a piece of red cloth, and then
made an offering to him of a small pig, and landing, they conducted him
to a Morai or temple, where he was presented in due form to their idols,
arranged on a platform within it.

After various other ceremonies, the priest presented him with a large
live pig and a piece of red cloth, and the men who brought it prostrated
themselves before him. He now descended from the platform, and led the
captain before a number of other images, each of which he addressed in a
sneering tone, snapping his fingers at it until he came to the centre,
when he threw himself before it and kissed it, requesting the captain to
do the same, who throughout had suffered himself to be directed by the
priest Koah. After this, a feast having been prepared, the two captains
were fed by the priests.

After distributing some presents, the captains returned, being conducted
to the boats by men bearing wands, the people falling down before them
as they walked along the beach. It is sad to reflect that a man of
judgment and intelligence should have submitted to this idolatrous
worship. Capta