old beaver hat. His coat was of coarse woven cloth of ancient cut,
with large metal buttons. His waistcoat was of brown velvet, which had
once been black, while a pair of short, tight, and well-worn velveteen
pantaloons, worsted stockings, and thick-soled shoes covered his lower
extremities. His shirt and cravat had been once probably white, but had
attained the hue of his own swarthy skin.

On coming on deck he shook hands with every one he met between the
gangway and cabin, assuring them of his affection. I had to attend at
the dinner, to which the royal party were invited. The ladies, however,
had to sit aside, the king taking his place at the table at the right
hand of the captain, while the minister, who carried his saliva bowl,
squatted behind him. He ate voraciously, and washed down the solids
with numerous glasses of Madeira. He drank the health of each person
present, finishing well-nigh three decanters of his favourite wine. As
soon as the king, the captain, passengers, and first mate had risen, the
ladies were allowed to approach their dinner, which had been cooked on
shore, and was now placed on the table. It consisted of a couple of
roast dogs, several dishes of small fish, and a white mixture called
pooah, of the consistency of flummery.

The steward and I could scarcely keep our countenances as we saw them
dipping the two forefingers of the right hand into the pooah, and after
turning them round in the mixture until they were covered with three or
four coats, by a dexterous twist rapidly transfer the food to their open
mouths, when, with one smack of their lips, their fingers were cleared.

Their dress consisted of a cloth worn over the shoulders--a long piece
of cloth wrapped in several folds--round the waist and reaching to their
knees.

The king spent a part of the afternoon in going over the ship, and
measuring her from stem to stern, while the ladies played draughts and
beat their antagonists hollow. There were a number of English and other
white men settled on the island. Two acted as the king's chief
counsellors, and took an active part in all the affairs of the country,
many of them having become very rich.

I may here remark, that the daughter and granddaughter of one of these
gentlemen afterwards became Queen of the Sandwich Islands. The country,
as far as I could see, appeared to be highly cultivated. The people in
their habits and customs presented a curious mixture of savager