222 HAWAII. 



females about the house were chiefly dressed in calico gowns, such 

 as have been before described. Lieutenant Case, Messrs. Waldron 

 and Drayton, and two or three midshipmen, went to the feast or 

 dinner. The hour of dinner was one o'clock. They were received 

 with much dignity in an apartment which occupied the whole house, 

 and was decorated with green wreaths, not unlike our churches at 

 Christmas. This room contained all the goods and chattels of the 

 proprietor, consisting of two bedsteads, good beds and bedding, tapa 

 screens, nests of beautiful camphor trunks, fine mats, common chairs, 

 with several large chests, said to contain much riches. The visiters 

 were presented by Kanuha to his wife, her sister, and his five 

 daughters : the former were robed in neatly-made black silk dresses, 

 with high-topped combs in their heads. Kanuha's youngest daugh- 

 ter, however, seemed to make the most impression. She and her 

 sisters were dressed in painted-muslin dresses, white stockings, and 

 shoes ; their heads were tastefully ornamented with the valuable 

 feather-wreath, before spoken of, and a garland or wreath of a 

 carmine-coloured flower, natural to the island ; in their hair behind 

 were enormous high-topped shell-combs; a red silk sash, and a 

 sweet-scented evergreen garland thrown over their shoulders, hang- 

 ing nearly to the ground, completed their costume. During the 

 presentation, the females took off" their evergreen scarfs and wreaths, 

 and placed them upon our gentlemen, quickly getting others for 

 themselves. 



The attendants were in great numbers ; each of them had one of 

 these wreaths hanging from one shoulder to the opposite hip. 



The table was spread with a white cloth, and just enough plates 

 to accommodate the guests. Our gentlemen, however, insisted that 

 the host and hostess, with their daughters, should sit down with 

 them ; and knives and forks being brought, they all joined the feast. 

 The dinner consisted of pig, pork, roast turkey, and luaad fowls, 

 sweet-potatoes, taro, &c. ; the meats were divided into eight courses, 

 and most of them were deliciously cooked ; for dessert, they had 

 watermelons and bananas. The entertainment went ofii" well. At 

 three o'clock part of the oflicers returned on board, while the rest 

 went with the young women, by invitation, to bathe. 



A few days afterwards this compliment was reciprocated, Kanuha 

 and his household dining on board. They were highly delighted with 

 the attentions and ceremonies, which were all quite new to them, as 

 neither the missionaries nor residents ever receive natives at their 



