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Explorers of the Pacific: European and American Discoveries in Polynesia

Charles S. Stewart

Charles S. Stewart

1829 to 1830

Charles S. Stewart had been in Hawaii under the American board of foreign missions, but his wife had become ill and he had taken her back to the United States. He became a chaplain in the United States Navy and left from Chesapeake on February 13, 1829, on the frigate Guerriere which was to relieve the Vincennes at the Pacific station. After rounding Cape Horn, the Guerriere arrived on June 18 at Callao, where Stewart transferred to the 24-gun Vincennes under Captain Finch. The Vincennes sailed for the Marquesas and arrived at Nukuhiva on July 26. She anchored off Taiohae, the valley of the "Hapas," against whom Captain Porter had sent a six-pounder gun in 1813. She moved round to the Taipi territory on August 5 and shortly after sailed for Tahiti, which was reached on the 15th. There the party met Moerenhout, a Dutch gentlemen; the missionaries Wilson and Nott; and Pritchard, the British Consul, who was ill. At Eimeo (Moorea), the South Sea Academy under the Reverend Orsmond was visited. In Tahiti, Mr. Crook, who had had a trying time in the Marquesas, was found to have a station on the south side of the island. The Vincennes visited Raiatea, where they met the missionary, John Williams, and King Tamatoa and his queen.

On September 13, the Vincennes sailed for Hawaii, where she arrived on October 1 after experiencing four days of dead calm. At Honolulu, Stewart met his old colleagues, among them Hiram Bingham, and a reception was held by King Kamehameha III. After visits to Lahaina, Maui, and Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii, the ship returned to Honolulu, whence she sailed for the Ladrones on November 24. Canton was visited in January 1830, and the Vincennes sailed for home via the Cape of Good Hope, arriving at New York on June 5, 1830.