196 NARRATIVE OF A JOURNEY 



loons, and common black hat. He was walking in the street at 

 a rapid, and not very dignified gate, and was followed closely by 

 about twenty natives. Some of these were rather fantastically 

 dressed, with old naval coats and rusty epaulets, which had seen 

 long service, and huge sabres with iron scabbards, which jingled 

 on the ground as the wearer stalked majestically along. Others 

 were habited plainly, like their master, and some few were of the 

 true tatterdemalion school. I had the curiosity to follow the 

 royal escort for a little way to see what would become of them 

 all ; they soon turned a corner and halted near a little waggon 

 which had just stopped. The king approached the vehicle and 

 handed from it an old and venerable looking native, (who I 

 afterwards learned was the chief Kekeoeva, the former guardian 

 of the king,) and they walked off arm in arm in a very affection- 

 ate manner, followed, as before, by the motley group of retainers. 



The natives have very generally become acquainted with the 

 pursuits of my companion and myself, and at almost all hours of 

 the day, our mansion is beseiged by men, women and children. 

 Some bring shells, pearls, living birds, cocoanuts, bananas, &c., 

 to sell, and others are attracted by curiosity to see us, which is 

 no doubt much excited in re2;ard to the use which we intend 

 making of all the strange things they bring us. 



Sunday, 11th. — Mr. Jones, the consul, called for us this 

 morning, and we accompanied him to the Seamen's chapel in 

 our neighborhood, the only church in the town in which English 

 service is performed. The chapel is a handsome building of 

 adobes, or sun-dried bricks, lately erected, and, as its name im- 

 ports, is intended chiefly for the benefit of the mariners who visit 

 the island. It is surmounted by a handsome dome and belfry of 

 wood, from which the bell was pealing out its solemn notes as we 

 approached it. The Rev. John Deill, the pastor, officiated, to 

 whom we were introduced at the conclusion of the service. 



In the afternoon, Mr. N. and myself walked with the consul to 



