TO GUAHON. 191 



thus be enabled to see the king much sooner, and 

 conchide my business to-day. Our scientific gen- 

 tlemen, as well as Kadu, also embraced this op- 

 portunity, by which we reached, at noon, the king's 

 quarters, which were on the shore on a bed of* 

 lava exposed to the scorching sun. His resi- 

 dence the preceding year was much more agree- 

 able than here, where the eyes fell on rugged 

 rocks. About twenty years ago, a very high 

 mountain near this place emitted fire ; the lava 

 flowed into the sea, and formed the bed on which 

 the straw tent was erected, and which scarcely 

 held three persons. The king lived as inconve- 

 niently as the nobles of his kingdom, whom he 

 has always with him. When they are displeased, he 

 says, with justice, *' I am not a straw better oft' 

 than you j if 1 let you remain on your estates, you 

 become as fat as your hogs, and have no other 

 thoughts but to injure your king." As he had 

 resided two months in this disagreeable place, and 

 fully put the patience of his chiefs to the test, he 

 intended, in a few days, to select a more agreeable 

 situation ; and this resolution he made known to 

 his suite with the following remark : ** You 

 will now know better how to appreciate what 

 is agreeable." Tamaahmaah, shortly before our 

 arrival, had gone to the boneto fishery, and 

 we werc in the interim conducted by Elliot to 

 his wi\es, who were sitting in the middle of a 

 tent, on fine mats, under an umbrelhi of white sail- 



