544 VISIT — FIREWORKS SONGS. NoV. 



We were told that the queen had walked to Papawa, distant 

 about two miles, to inspect a quantity of fruit, cocoa-nuts, 

 pine-apples, &c. (which she had ordered to be collected as a 

 present to the man-of-war) : and, with our glasses, we saw the 

 royal party hastening along the beach, and in the midst of a 

 number of women, children, and men, the queen was observed 

 advancing at a quick walk. Soon afterwards, when it was 

 supposed she had rested and dressed, we sent the boats. The 

 chiefs were already on board. Mr. Pritchard undertook the 

 troublesome offices of interpreter and master of the ceremonies, 

 and by his assistance we saw the whole party collected on the 

 Beagle's upper deck, while the seamen manned yards, and we 

 all gave the queen three cheers. 



A bad dinner, accepted after the four mile walk, in a manner 

 it did not deserve, — was succeeded by a few rockets, blue 

 lights, and false fires, — the only fireworks we possessed. Luc- 

 kily the rockets were good and gave high satisfaction. Lying 

 in the middle of a bay, whose radius, supposing it semi-cir- 

 cular, may be half-a-niile, our ears were startled by a thrilling 

 outcry of delight echoing around the beach, as each successive 

 rocket rushed into the sky and burst. This outcry from the 

 natives on shore, who were taken by surprise (the night being 

 very dark) showed how much they enjoyed the sight. Our 

 visitors on board, being told what would happen, only re- 

 peated ' maitai,' ' maitai,'* with earnestness. I much wished 

 then to have had a few good fireworks of a more artificial 

 character. To any one about to visit distant, especially half- 

 civilized or savage nations, let me repeat a piece of advice 

 given to me, but which from inadvertence I neglected to fol- 

 low : " take a large stock of fireworks." 



Some presents to each of our guests helped to amuse them 

 and keep up their cheerfulness. After tea I proposed hearing 

 a few of the seamen's, songs, — as some of our crew were very 

 good singers, — not at the time thinking of their prejudices 

 against any singing except hymns. Mr. Pritchard had no 

 word to interpret ' song' but ' himene ;' and Rule Britannia, 



* Very good — beautiful. 



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