252 DEATH OF THE KING AND QUEEN. 



were there treated with particular attention by 

 the English Court ; and that they both died in 

 that country, having previously expressed their 

 desire to be buried in their native land. This 

 wish was fulfilled by the English Government. 

 The bodies, having been embalmed, were laid in 

 magnificent coffins decorated with gold, and 

 Lord Byron was appointed to carry them and 

 the royal suite, back to Wahu. When he ar- 

 rived there, and the news of the deaths of the 

 King and Queen transpired, it produced a great 

 but varying sensation. Some of the people la- 

 mented the loss, but the greater number re- 

 joiced to be relieved of a ruler in whom they 

 had no confidence ; our friend Karemaku seemed 

 much grieved, possibly from old attachment to 

 the royal family, or from patriotism, as he had 

 hoped that the King's visit to England would 

 have been very advantageous to him, and no 

 one was at the moment qualified to assume the 

 reins of government as his successor. 



On the 11th of May, both coffins were carried 

 in solemn procession to the church, the fortress 

 and the English frigate firing their guns. The 

 people cried and howled, as custom requires on 



