108 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
with a light kihei of painted native cloth thrown 
over his shoulder, stood behind his chair, holding 
a highly polished spittoon, made of the beautifully 
brown wood of the cordia in one hand, and in the 
other a handsome kahiri , an elastic rod, three or 
four feet long, having the shining feathers of the 
tropic-bird tastefully fastened round the upper end 
with which he fanned away the flies from the per¬ 
son of his master. 
The beach was crowded with spectators, and the 
exhibition kept up with spirit, till the overspread¬ 
ing shades of evening put an end to their mirth, 
and afforded a respite to the poor children, whose 
little limbs must have been very much fatigued by 
two hours of constant exercise. We were anxious 
to address the multitude on the subject of religion, 
before they should disperse; but so intent were 
they on their amusement, that they could not have 
been diverted from it. I succeeded, however, in 
taking a sketch of the novel assemblage, in which, 
a youth, who had climbed a high pole, (that, look¬ 
ing over the heads of the throng who surrounded 
the dancers, he might witness the scene,) formed a 
conspicuous object. 
A messenger now invited us to sup with the 
governor, and we soon after joined him and his 
friends around his hospitable board. Our repast 
was not accompanied by the gladsome sound of 
“ harp in hall” or “ aged minstrel’s flowing lay,” 
yet it was enlivened by an interesting youthful 
bard, twelve or fourteen years of age, who was 
seated on the ground in the large room in which 
we were assembled, and who, during the supper, 
sung, in a monotonous but pleasing strain, the 
deeds of former chiefs, ancestors of our host. His 
fingers swept no “ classic lyre,” but beat, in a 
