106 



TRE GBUISE OF THE ' GUBAQOA. 



connected in the centre by a piece of strong netting, which 

 made a safe and comfortable seat, and was supported by a 

 man at eacli end. Tlie King has resolved to have an open- 

 ing cut througli the reef, which has been partly done, but 

 it is much to be feared that it will not be very soon ac- 

 complished. We proceeded to the palace, which stands on 

 a pretty lawn ornamented with casuarinas, and surrounded 

 bv a fence of cocoa-nut leaves. The casuarinas had been 



lOXG GEOKGE S HOUSE, TOXGATABU. 



planted, so we were told, in memory of a beloved son, who 

 had died at 19 years of age. It is said that, smce this loss, 

 the King's disposition has been so much altered by his grief, 

 that lie has become very melancholy and silent, which, how- 

 ever, has not prevented his adopting other children, among 

 whom we were shown the one that is his favourite, whose 



