284 VOYAGE TO THE 



chap, repaired ; the drummer continuing his performance, 

 ^^ and marching to and fro, until he became heartily 

 M \l T 26.' tired, to the infinite delight of the assembled popu- 

 lace, who crowded round, and even scaled the loftiest 

 trees, to obtain a glimpse of him. 



A few days after this visit the queens came again 

 to Toanoa, and I invited them into the tent we had 

 pitched on shore, with the view of making a present 

 to each of them, and of confiding to their care the 

 presents intended for Pomarree Aboo-rai, Aimatta, 

 and Utamme, who were absent. The present for 

 the king, which consisted of a handsome double- 

 barrelled gun inlaid with silver, with some broad- 

 cloth and other valuables, I reserved until I should 

 have an opportunity of seeing him. The other par- 

 cels were apportioned according to what I consider- 

 ed to be the rank of the parties, and the name of each 

 person was placed on his destined share. The re- 

 gent, however, opened them all, and very uncere- 

 moniously transferred a portion of each to her own, 

 and huddling the whole together, she sent them off 

 to her canoe. Then finishing half a bottle of brandy 

 between them, the regent and her sister despatched 

 the remainder of the spirits after the presents, and 

 took their leave. 



In the course of the day we received an invitation 

 to pass the evening at the regent's house at Papiete, 

 a very romantic spot about a mile from the place 

 where the ship was anchored. After a delightful 

 walk along the shore in the refreshing coolness which 

 succeeds a tropical day, we arrived at the royal re- 

 sidence, which was in one of those spacious sheds 

 frequently mentioned by my predecessors. It was 

 about a hundred feet in length, by thirty-five in 



