REWA. 123 



About nine o'clock the fireworks were exhibited. When the first 

 rocket was sent off, the natives exhibited fear and excitement ; the 

 king seized Captain Hudson by the hand, and trembled like a leaf. 

 When the rockets burst, and displayed their many stars, they all 

 seemed electrified. The effect produced by the blue-lights on the 

 dark groups of naked figures, amazed and bewildered as they were, 

 was quite striking, particularly as the spectacle was accompanied by 

 the uncouth sounds of many conchs, and by the yell of the savages, to 

 drive away the spirits they supposed to be let loose and flying in the 

 air. Paddy Connel, alias Berry, told them that nothing but the un- 

 willingness we had to do them injury prevented us from sending them 

 to Ambau, ten miles distant, and he said there was no doubt that they 

 believed that it could be done. This exhibition excited the wonder 

 and amazement of all the country round, and induced them to believe 

 that these flying spirits were collected for the destruction of Rewa, 

 and that they themselves would be the next to suffer. 



After the fireworks they all retired, Captain Hudson taking up his 

 abode with the king, and continuing to talk with him until a late 

 hour. When they retired to their sleeping apartments, he found his 

 place of rest was divided by tapa-cloths and screens from the rest 

 of the apartments of the house, and well furnished with musquito- 

 netting. Ere he got to sleep, he was surprised to find his musquito- 

 net moving, and still more so when he saw the figure of a woman, 

 one of the king's own wives, of whom he has a large number, endea- 

 vouring to become his bedfellow. This was to him an unexpected 

 adventure, and an honour of which he was not ambitious. He there- 

 fore called loudly for Paddy Connel and Jimmy, the king's body- 

 servant and cup-bearer, and through them very politely declined the 

 honour ; but the lady positively refused to go away, saying that she 

 had been sent by the king, and must sleep there ; that she durst not 

 go away, for the king would club her ! She was told that she must 

 go, that the matter would be arranged with the king in the morning, 

 and she need have no fears about it. She then left the musquito-net, 

 although with evident alarm as to the consequences, and would go no 

 further. Seeing this, Captain Hudson sent Jimmy to the king, to 

 say he did not wish a bedfellow; to which the monarch replied it was 

 well, and directed the woman to withdraw, which she did as soon as 

 satisfied that it was the king's command. This circumstance, together 

 with the continued trampling of the mice, with which the palace is 

 overrun, drove away any thing like sleep ; and Captain Hudson, in 



