ROYALTY DISREGARDED. 187 
lequinades with his limbs and broad-sword, as 
if he had been afflicted with Saint Vitus’s dance. 
When they reached the frigate, the deck was 
already occupied by Tahaitians, carrying on 
their trading with so much eagerness and noise, 
that scarcely a word could be distinguished. 
The vessel was also surrounded by a crowd of 
canoes filled with all kinds of wares for barter ; 
and so little attention was paid to the Royal 
Family, that it was with much difficulty our 
people could clear the way for their boat. Nor 
did the presence of these high personages at- 
tract much more notice when they had climbed 
the deck; their subjects continued to drive 
their bargains without interruption, and scarcely 
vouchsafed the slightest salutation. Very dif- 
ferent would have been their conduct on the 
arrival of a Missionary. The Queen was pro- 
bably hurt by this neglect, for she went directly 
into my cabin, followed by her family, and re- 
mained there till she quitted the ship. The 
construction of the vessel was not likely to ex- 
cite her curiosity, as she was herself the owner 
of a well-built English merchant ship. 
The goods in the cabin, however, delighted 
