produced a favourable change in Mr. D., who no longer requires the
hourly attention they have hitherto shown him. The mornings here,
dew-bathed and rose-flushed, are, if possible, more lovely than the
nights, and people are astir early to enjoy them. The American
consul and Mr. Damon called while we were sitting at our eight-
o'clock breakfast, from which I gather that formalities are
dispensed with. After spending the morning in hunting among the
stores for things which were essential for the invalid, I lunched in
the Nevada with Captain Blethen and our friends.

Next to the advent of "national ships" (a euphemism for men-of-war),
the arrivals and departures of the New Zealand mail-steamers
constitute the great excitement of Honolulu, and the failures,
mishaps, and wonderful unpunctuality of this Webb line are highly
stimulating in a region where "nothing happens." The loungers were
saying that the Nevada's pumps were going for five days before we
arrived, and pointed out the clearness of the water which was
running from them at the wharf as an evidence that she was leaking
badly. {40} The crowd of natives was enormous, and the foreigners
were there in hundreds. She was loading with oranges and green
bananas up to the last moment,--those tasteless bananas which, out
of the tropics, misrepresent this most delicious and ambrosial
fruit.

There was a far greater excitement for the natives, for King
Lunalilo was about to pay a state visit to the American flag-ship
California, and every available place along the wharves and roads
was crowded with kanakas anxious to see him. I should tell you that
the late king, being without heirs, ought to have nominated his
successor; but it is said that a sorceress, under whose influence he