SANDWICH ISLANDS. 
131 
queen Kahumanu, whose temper is violent, although she is 
a person of keen shrewd understanding, is very indignant 
that the little king and princess should be painted before 
her, and is not very well pleased at the frown she sees re¬ 
flected from her own portrait; however, on the whole she 
is very kind to us, and unites with our old shipmates in 
showing us every possible attention. 
In the painting-room, however, the chiefs were very 
troublesome. One would dip his fingers in the colours on 
the palette, another would try if those on the canvas were 
of the same hue; some would be mimicking every action 
of the painter, with true monkey precision, and others would 
be talking, whistling, spitting, singing, and giving advice, 
until it was scarcely possible to proceed. Out of doors it 
was better: a tree grew more quickly than a head, and the 
impatience of the spectators was more speedily gratified; 
however all was so good-humoured, that it was impossible 
to be angry. 
May 16 .—A party rode up the hill behind the town; it 
is covered with grass and well clothed with trees, and bears 
unequivocal marks of having once been an active volcano. 
The crater is used for a purpose not very remote from that 
of its origin, for eight guns of thirty-two pounds are mounted 
on it, and it contributes much to the defence of the harbour. 
