36 COLLECTOR'S RAMBLES 



laughed, called me all the names they could think of 

 appropriate to a gourmand, said I would kill myself, 

 and concluded by buying out the fruit-pedler near by, 

 and sitting down beside me to follow my example. 

 When the cravings of hunger were satisfied, we started 

 on a tour of inspection about the city, took a look at 

 the palace of the " Kanaka King," and admired the 

 productive gardens where all kinds of tropical fruits 

 were growing in the open air. 



Our vessel left late in the afternoon : and as the rays 

 of the setting sun shone on the lovely scene, it was a 

 picture to be remembered. Before the stars came out, 

 nothing remained to view but a range of blue moun- 

 tains on the northern horizon. 



Every day of our southern journey brought us into 

 warmer weather. The breezes ceased, and the glassy 

 water showed scarcely a perceptible swell. A dead 

 calm settled on everything. Tropical showers were 

 common, but they did not cool the air much, and we all 

 grew very indolent. We crossed the line New Year's 

 Day, and made it a day of rejoicing all round. The 

 steward gave each of the passengers a duck to pick for 

 his dinner; and rare sport we had as we sat about the 

 deck, each one doing his best to get ahead of his neigh- 

 bors. In the evening the cabin passengers gave an 

 entertainment in the saloon, and invited all of us in. 

 There were declaiming, reading, and music, which, al- 

 though not of the best, were very acceptable under the 



