The poor things came
up with pathetic innocence, many of them with nothing on but an old
shirt, and cotton trousers rolled up to the knees. Some had red
shirts and blue trousers, others considered that a shirt was an
effective outer garment. Some wore highly ornamental, dandified
shirts, and trousers tucked into high, rusty, mud-covered boots. A
few young men were in white straw hats, white shirts, and white
trousers, with crimson leis round their hats and throats. Some had
diggers' scarves round their waists; but the most effective costume
was sported by a few old men, who had tied crash towels over their
shoulders.
It was often amusing and pathetic at once to see them come up.
Obviously, when the critical moment arrived, they were as anxious to
do the right thing as a debutante is to back her train successfully
out of the royal presence at St. James's. Some were so agitated at
last as to require much coaching from the governor as to how to
present their gifts and shake hands. Some half dropped down on
their knees, others passionately and with tears kissed the king's
hand, or grasped it convulsively in both their own; while a few were
so embarrassed by the presents they were carrying that they had no
hands at all to shake, and the sovereign good-naturedly clapped them
on the shoulders.
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