LETTER XIV.] 



THE LAST OF UFA. 



141 



i 



and scientific men were lying on the table, and the king in 

 looking at them showed a surprising amount of knowledge of 

 Avhat they had written or done, quite entitling him to unite in 

 Dean Stanley's " Communion of Educated Men." I had pre- 

 viously asked him for his signature for my autograph collec- 

 tion, and he said he had composed a stanza for me which he 

 thought I might like to have in addition. He called with it 

 on the following afternoon, apologising for his dress, a short 

 jacket and blue trowsers, stuffed into boots plastered with 

 mud up to the knees. I was surprised when he asked me 

 if the lines were correctly spelt, for he speaks English re- 

 markably well. They are simply a kind wish, unaffectedly 

 expressed. 



" Hilo, Hawaii, Feb. 26. 



" Whereso'er thou may'st roam, 

 Whereso'er thou mak'st thy home, 

 May God thy footsteps guide, 

 Watch o'er thee and provide. 

 This is my earnest prayer for thee, 

 "W elcome, stranger, from over the sea. 



" LUNALILO R." 



It startles one sometimes to hear American vulgarisms 

 uttered in his harmonious tones. The American admiral and 

 generals had just arrived from the volcano, stiff, sore, bruised, 

 jaded, "done," and the king said, "I guess the Admiral's 

 about used up." He is really remarkably attractive, but I 

 observe a look of irresolution about his mouth, indicative of a 

 facility of disposition capable of being turned to the worst 

 account. I think from what I have heard that the Hawaiian 

 kings have fallen victims rather to unscrupulous foreigners, 

 than to their own bad instincts. 



My last day has been taken up with farewell visits, and I 

 finish this on board the " Kilauea." Miss Karpe and I had to 

 ride two miles, to a point at which it was possible to embark 

 without risk, a heavy surf having for three weeks rendered it 

 impossible for loaded boats to communicate with the shore at 

 Hilo. My clothes were soaked when we reached the rocks, 

 and Upa, very wet, carried us into a wet whale-boat, with 

 water up to our ancles, which brought us over a heavy, sicken- 

 ing swell into this steamer, which is dirty as well as wet. I 

 told Upa to lead my mare, and ride his own horse, but the 



