the Prince and I sat, there was his special royal standard, as
heir-apparent, and just behind us were stationed a couple of women,
with two large and handsome _kahilis_, which they waved incessantly
backwards and forwards. The viands were much the same as at
Tahiti--raw seaweed, which was eaten with each mouthful, being
substituted for the chopped cocoa-nut and salt-water. The carved _koa_
bowls, which were in constant requisition as finger-glasses, were
specially elegant and useful-looking articles. _Poi_ is generally
eaten from a bowl placed between two people, by dipping three fingers
into it, giving them a twirl round, and then sucking them. It sounds
rather nasty; but, as a matter of fact, it is so glutinous a mixture
that you really only touch the particles that stick to your fingers.
The latter you wash after each mouthful, so that there is nothing so
very dreadful about it after all. There was a quantity of raw fish,
which I did not touch, but which some of our party thought most
excellent, besides dried and cooked fish, which seemed very good,
fried candle-nuts, baked pig, and many other delicacies. We could get
however, nothing to drink. After supper, we returned to the house,
where we found an abundance of champagne and other wines, cakes, and
biscuits.

About twelve o'clock we thought it was time to say good-bye, as it was
Saturday night. Beneath a brilliant full moon the drive to the wharf
and row off in the boat were delightful.

_Sunday, December 31st_.--I was on deck at six o'clock, and saw what I
had often heard about--a team of twenty oxen, driven by a man in a
cart, drawing by means of a rope, about a quarter of a mile in length,
a large ship through the opening in the reef, the man and cattle being
upon the coral.[15]