Adam. Ivan. Krusenstern, Russian navigator, explorer and scientist. Served and trained with the British navy from 1793 to 1799. In the year 1802, the Russian Government purchased two ships from the British Admiralty, whose names were changed to the “NEVA” and the (?) Don.
After being refitted and provisioned, these ships left Kronstadt in August, 1803, under the command of Captain Krusenstern, on a voyage of exploration around Cape Horn; they called at the Mendaña or Marquesa Islands, remained there four months, making investigation of the resources of this group; later the ships sailed for Hawaii, arriving on June 13, 1804; here also an intensive study was made of the people, products of the islands, harbors, fisheries, climate, etc.
The ships returned to Kronstadt in 1806, and Captain Krusenstern was advanced to the rank of Admiral; he is the Author of “A Voyage Round the World,” in 3 volumes, 1810 and 1814, in the Russian language; he also was the Cartographer of an “Atlas of the Pacific Ocean.”
On page 199, of the Author’s Monograph “Leprosy in Hawaii,” will be found the following statement:
1804, June 13. The Russian ship “NEVA” arrives; did this ship infect the Islands with CHOLERA?
1804, ? ? A severe and deadly Epidemic disease ravages the Islands, named by the Hawaiian people, the “Ma’i make Okuu,” or the “Ahulau Okuu.”
THE AHULAU OKUU.
The word Ahulau means a deadly epidemic or pestilence; the word Okuu has two meanings which will be explained later.
A description of the symptoms of the victims of the Ahulau Okuu, as related to the Author in the year 1883, is herewith set forth in the words of the narrators, grandchildren of some of those who had been stricken with the Ahulau Okuu, but had recovered.
“Owing to the terrible pains in their stomachs, and the cramps in the legs, those who had the New disease could neither stand nor lie down: (hence the meaning of the word Okuu, a verb, to sit up because one has no place to lie down in comfort).