dicrous, had it not been
saddening. In the midst of the chorus, "Glory, Hallelujah," the foremost
girl, at the most critical moment of her performance upon the
tambourine, made a misstep and fell at full length in the middle of the
muddy street, while her noisy instrument rolled away through the slush.
"There is something in the misfortunes of our best friends which is not
entirely displeasing to us," says a certain French philosopher; and so
the Salvationists supplemented their companion's misfortune and their
"Glory Hallelujah" with uproarious laughter. As the poke-bonnet became
once more elevated, both it and the wearer presented a wofully
dilapidated appearance. It seems incredible that fanaticism can make
such ninnies of men and women, for some of these ill-conducting persons
are probably sincere.

Napier is situated about two hundred miles north of Wellington, upon an
open roadstead and a very dangerous coast,--a fact sadly impressed upon
us by the wreck of a large ship, the "Northumberland," an English
freighter which was destroyed here a few days before our arrival and
portions of which were still visible. With two anchors down, this fine
vessel was driven on shore and completely wrecked, involving the loss of
several lives and much valuable property. Almost superhuman efforts were
made in behalf of the sufferers by the local life-saving boat's crew,
but only with partial success.

The business portion of Napier is quite level, and regularly laid out;
but the residences of the population creep up, tier upon tier, on the
surrounding hills, one of which forms an extraordinary promontory
extending into the roadstead. The six thousand persons who constitute
the population of the town seem to be taking life very easily; indeed,
there did not appear to be much of any business going on in the place,
and the quietude of it was not a little oppressive. There were small
crowds of men and youth loafing before the bar-rooms upon the corners of
the streets, and among them were observed quite a sprinkling of
half-castes and full-blooded natives. There was also a number of native
women strolling about listlessly, wrapped only in their high-colored
blankets and wearing a single skirt. The tattooed faces rendered these
women and girls needlessly hideous,--an aspect which was partially
redeemed by their fine eyes, the beauty of which nothing can efface;
they are large, black as night, and brilliant, full of feeling and
tenderne