The preparations for the expedition being completed, we left the harbour on the 11th of December, O. S. with a fair wind, and soon lost sight of the island. CHAPTER VIII. Voyage to Sandwich Islands--Make Owhyhee--Touch at Mowee--Proceed to Wahoo--Tamaahmaah and other chiefs come on board--Author resides three months with the King--Account of his mode of life--Remove to the house of Isaac Davis--Account of him--Death of Terremytee, the King’s brother, and transactions that took place on that occasion--Remarkable water-spout--Author receives a grant of land from the King, to which he removes--Residence there--Arrival of the ship Duke of Portland--Anecdotes of the King--Departure from the Sandwich Islands. We proceeded on our voyage to the Sandwich Islands, and enjoyed fine weather, with favourable winds. No land was seen from the time we quitted the Fox Islands, till the 27th of January. On that morning, at day break, we discovered the mountains of Owhyhee, at the distance of ten leagues. In the afternoon, we were close in with the land, and coasted along the north side of the island. The breeze being light, several canoes came from the shore with fresh provisions. We stood off and on for some time, carrying on a brisk trade with the natives; amongst other things supplied by them, we were surprised to find sheep and goats, the breed of which, although but recently introduced, has increased so rapidly that they already form an article of trade. We passed the foot of Mouna-kaa,[18] one of the highest mountains in the world. The sides are extremely steep, and although situated within the tropics, the summit is perpetually covered with snow; a narrow tract of level ground lies between the base of the mountain and the sea, terminating in high abrupt clifts; presenting at a distance a most barren appearance. On a nearer approach, however, we could observe numerous patches of cultivated land, and the lower parts of the mountain covered with wood. Farther to the west, the plains are of greater extent, the country well wooded, and in a high state of cultivation; with many villages and houses, presenting every appearance of a numerous and industrious population. [18] Captain King estimates the height of this mountain at not less than 18,400 feet; exceeding the peak of Teneriffe, according to the computation of the Chevalier Borda, by nearly 6,000 feet. The result of a trigonometrical measurement by the latter, gives 1,742 toises, as the altitude of that mountain above the level of the sea. _Vide_ _Cook’s Third Voyage_, vol. iii. p. 103. and _Voyage fait par ordre du Roi, an 1771-2_, tom. i. p. 119.