174 TEH 0BU18E OF THE 'GUBACJOA.' 



This ceremonial humiliation of Somo-Somo is the more 

 curious because its chiefs were persons of importance. Thus 

 Golea, the younger brother of the King, Avho had retired to 

 Wariki, and left the sovereignty of Somo-Somo to him, was 

 married to Eleanor (she had become a Christian), Thakum- 

 bau's niece, Avho was of superior rank to her uncle. Dr. 

 Seemann, who saw her in 1860, speaks of her as being a fine 

 woman, of dignified deportment, and manifestly intelligent 

 as well. A party of gentlemen having made arrangements 

 to ascend to the svimmit of Somo-Somo, the queen expressed 

 her intention of joining it, which she did with a large suite. 

 Girdled with a fold of Avhite cahco, her Iiead wreathed with 

 fern leaves, the purple blossom of the Chinese rose pendent 

 from her ear, and a necklace made of sliells, such was the 

 total of her toilette. ' No other garment,' says the fascinated 

 doctor, ' graced her stately person, and yet she looked truly 

 majestic' The ladies of lier court, unencumbered with the 

 girdle, and borrowing no superfluous covering from portions 

 of banana and cocoa- nut leaves freshly cut, Avere sent forAvard 

 as pioneers to make a track, and shake off the moisture from 

 the over-lying branches. Alert, as light-footed as light- 

 clothed, they soon distanced the heavy-dressed, and found 

 their Avay to the top, Avhere, en attendant, they amused them- 

 selves with opening cocoa-nuts, and smoking cigarettes made 

 of dry banana leaves instead of paper. The vieAV from the 

 sunnuit commanding the straits of Somo-Somo was veiy 

 fine, but there Avas close at hand another charming tableau 



