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them from the governor's hand. This was a lengthy 

 process, but each child had a claque, which communi- 

 cated enthusiasm to the others of the audience, and 

 there was continuous clapping. 



"Les Cadets de Russie" by the band preceded the 

 allocution by the governor. He also spoke sotto voce, 

 as if to himself, and as no one heard his words, the fans 

 of native straw and Chinese turkey feathers were plied 

 incessantly. The heat was oppressive. A sigh of re- 

 lief came with the entr'acte, when all the grown folk 

 flocked to the attached saloon. I joined the queen's 

 group for a few moments, and drank champagne with 

 her and her daughters, and I was called over to have a 

 glass of Perrier Jouet with the governor's party. Most 

 of the natives drank bottled lemonade from the glacerie 

 at five sous a bottle. The queen wore a rose in her hair. 

 She was very large, with almost a man's face, shrewd, 

 heavy, determined, and yet lively, and without a shade 

 of pretense. Her walk was singularly majestic, and 

 was often commented upon. 



The Princess Tekau was beautiful, quite hke a Span- 

 ish senorita in color and feature, her ivory skin gleaming 

 against a pale-blue bodice, and her blue-black hair 

 piled high. We talked French or English, with many 

 Tahitian words thrown in, according to the mood or 

 need of the moment. Every one was laughing. After 

 all, Tahiti was very simple, and even officialdom could 

 not import aristocracy or stiffness into a climate where 

 starch melted before one could impress a spectator. 



The inspecteurs and others of the suite had smiles and 

 quips for humbler girls than princesses. I saw one of 

 the awesome whiskerandos from Paris, haughty and 



