116 THE CBUISE OF THE ' GUBAQOA: 



at Lifuka, in 1849, he was occupying a house temporarily 

 until the new one was finished. The arrangements were 

 pretty much the same as here described ; there was a table 

 and two chairs, but the King and Queen were found seated 

 on the ground. The King at that time was a fine-looking 

 man about 45 years old, tall and powerfully built. He was 

 lightly draped in native cloth, as was also the Queen, a strong 

 handsome woman, with her only son, an intelligent boy 

 seven or eight years old, seated by her. He was attended 

 by a page of about 14, named George, who being sent on 

 board with a message caused infinite fun by his clever 

 boyish impudence, making himself quite at home, returning 

 joke for joke, and rendering himself so popular as to be 

 sent back to shore loaded with presents. 



King George has a nice, smooth-built, fast -looking galley, 

 and a small saihng schooner, which I saw at anchor near Jiis 

 residence ; he has also one of the few carriages to be found in 

 the island. Next morning at half-past nine, as had been 

 agreed upon, the King came on board our ship. To his cos- 

 tume of the day before he had added a pair of hussar's 

 epaulettes, a cocked hat and feathers, which he held constantly 

 in his hand, while his secretary and factotum, Mr. Moss, kept 

 on his cap. The ' Cura^oa' paid his majesty the honours 

 which were' his due, and the 'Falcon,' that had arrived the 

 evening before with our despatches and letters, and the 

 news of the assassination of President Lincoln, did the 

 same. After ' God save the Queen ' by the band, the King 

 was conducted through every part of the ship, and, to 



