PACIFIC AND BEERINGS STRAIT. 285 



width, of an oval form, with a thatched roof, sup- CI 1 i x vl> ' 

 ported upon small poles placed close together. By ^— -v- * 

 the light of the moon we discovered a small door ism' 

 about mid-way between the extremities, which we 

 entered, and immediately found ourselves in dark- 

 ness. On groping our way, our shins came in con- 

 tact with several bamboo partitions dividing the area 

 into various compartments. In one of these we 

 distinguished by the rays of moonlight which fell 

 through the interstices of the dwelling, that it was 

 occupied by toutous, or common people, of both 

 sexes. We, therefore, turned to the opposite direc- 

 tion, which soon led us to the royal saloon, which 

 we found illuminated by a yellow and melancholy 

 light proceeding from a rag hung over the edge 

 of a broken cocoa-nut shell half filled with oil. 

 The apartment, to our surprise, was quite still ; but 

 we were soon greeted with the salutation of " Eu- 

 ranna-poy" (How do you do?) from a number of 

 athletic men, her majesty's favourites, as they awoke 

 in succession from their nap. 



We at length discovered the queen regent ex- 

 tended upon a mat spread upon dried grass, with 

 which the whole apartment was strewed ; around 

 her, upon mats also, were several interesting young 

 females ; and occupying a wooden bedstead, placed 

 against a slight partition, which contained numerous 

 cases filled with cocoa-nut oil, we found Pomarree 

 Aboo-rai, and Aimatta. Our entry threw this nu- 

 merous party into a state of activity and bustle, 

 some to procure a second light, and some to accom- 

 modate us with mats ; while Pomarree, drawing his 

 tappa round him, led forward his princess, Aimatta, 

 and extended his politeness much beyond what we 



