266 iVAREATIVE OF A JOURNEY 



braces to liis trousers, in a manner neither very dignified or 

 kingly, but one which indicated most strongly the deep interest 

 and attachment with which he regards the last scion of his noble 

 house. Should Harieta die, the royal Hawaiian line will be 

 broken for ever, the insignia of Sandwich Island rank will be 

 buried in her tomb, and the children of her reigning brother will 

 not inherit their father's rank. The princess is married to a 

 chief named Leleahoku, commonly called " young Pitt." She 

 has just given birth to a child, which died a few hours after, and 

 she is now suffering from severe puerperal fever. Dr. Rooke, 

 who attends her, feels very slight hopes of her recovery. 



4:th. — This afternoon Mr. Josiah Thompson, Mr. Cowie, and 

 myself, rode down to Waititi, and to Diamond Hill. The day has 

 been a most delightful one, our horses were excellent, and we 

 enjoyed the ride highly. In the upper part of the Waititi district, 

 we passed through an extensive and beautiful cocoanut grove, 

 probably a mile in length, by half a mile in width. 



In the midst of this grove, we came to a small group of native 

 houses, the inhabitants of which came running around our horses, 

 the younger branches, in a state of perfect nudity, and capering 

 about like so many little imps of darkness. I told them I should 

 like to have a couple of nuts from one of the trees. I had hardly 

 spoken before two of them ran to the nearest, and commenced 

 mounting, one each side, and then, best fellow reached the top 

 soonest. They climbed just like monkeys, placing their arms 

 half way round the tree, and their feet flat against it, and then 

 actually jumping up the perpendicular trunk. The exhibition 

 was so exceedingly ludicrous, that I was indulging myself in a 

 hearty laughing fit, when my cachination was suddenly inter- 

 rupted by two nuts falling so near me that I felt in some danger of 

 having my brains knocked out. I suspended my mirth, to shake 

 my fist threateningly at the young urchins, who immediately slid 



