236 LETTER FROM NOMAHANNA. 



excuse my indifferent writing. Hunger compels 

 me to close my letter. I wish that thou also 

 mayst eat thy hog's head with appetite and 

 pleasure. 



I am, 

 With royal constancy 



And endless love, thine, 



NoMAHANNA." 



This curious epistle is very neatly written 

 in a firm hand. The letters are large, well- 

 formed, and very intelligible. The superscrip- 

 tion bears only the words with which the letter 

 begins—" Aroha Rukkini !'' The composition 

 had taken her many weeks to complete ; she made 

 some progress in it every day ; but what was 

 once inserted she never altered ; the same clean 

 page that had been transmitted to me, being 

 the identical one on which the letter was com- 

 menced. 



It was soon known in Hanaruro that the 

 Queen had written to me ; and as all she did 

 was imitated, I was presently in a fair way for 

 being honoured with many similar letters. All 

 my intended correspondents, however, would 



