QUEEN POMAEES VISIT TO TEE GE ALLEN GEE. 331 
pleased without fear of giving offence ; picking our 
way amongst the numerous parties that were seated 
about, interchanging jokes and compliments, or 
squatting down amongst a lot of lively native girls 
on their outspread mats, and carrying on a broken 
sort of conversation with them — all generally so 
good-humoured and merry that they could not fail 
to win one’s esteem. 
All appeared thoroughly to enjoy the music, and 
to regret when the programme came to an end with 
the “ Marseillaise mats, bundles, and babies were 
gathered up, and the crowd, in a short time, dis- 
persed to their various homes. 
A levee was held at the palace, at which the 
officers of the Challenger were presented to royalty in 
due form. And (on the 1st October) a return visit 
was made by the Queen ; on which occasion the op- 
portunity was taken to entertain her Majesty at a 
ball on board. The quarter-deck was prettily deco- 
rated with flags, trophies, and flowers ; and as there 
were several princes and princesses present, together 
with the French Governor and staff, the party was a 
gay and merry one. 
During our stay here excursions were planned to 
various parts of the island ; amongst them, that made 
to Point Venus had a double interest attached to it. 
It was on this promontory that Captain Cook first 
made the astronomical observations by which he 
determined the correct position of the island, and, in 
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