"Kilauea? Lunalilo?" Then he goes back and orates
rapidly, gesticulating emphatically. A very handsome, pleasant-
looking man, with a red sash round his waist, who, I understand from
signs, is the schoolmaster, emerged from the throng, and sat down
beside me; but his English appears limited to these words, "How
old?" When I told him by counting on my fingers he laughed
heartily, and said "Too old," and he told the others, and they all
laughed. I have photographs of Queen Victoria and Mr. Coan in my
writing-book, and when I exhibited them they crowded round me
clapping their hands, and screaming with delight when they
recognized Mr. Coan. The king's handwriting was then handed round
amidst reverent "ahs" and "ohs," or what sounded like them. This
letter was also passed round and examined lengthwise, sidewise, and
upside down. They shrieked with satirical laughter when I pressed
some fragile ferns in my blotting-book. The natives think it quite
idiotic in us to attach any value to withered leaves. My inkstand
with its double-spring lids has been a great amusement. Each one
opened both, and shut them again, and a chorus of "maikai, maikai,"
(good) ran round the circle. They seem so simple and good that at
last I have trusted them with my watch, which excites unbounded
admiration, probably because of its small size.
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