I must describe it for the benefit of ----, who
persists in thinking that coloured royalty must necessarily be
grotesque. People arrived shortly before sunset, and were received
by Queen Emma, who sat on the lawn, with her attendants about her,
very simply dressed in black silk. The king, at whose entrance the
band played the national anthem, stood on another lawn, where
presentations were made by the chamberlain; and those who were
already acquainted with him had an opportunity for a few minutes'
conversation. He was dressed in a very well-made black morning
suit, and wore the ribbon and star of the Austrian order of Francis
Joseph. His simplicity was atoned for by the superlative splendour
of his suite; the governor of Oahu, and the high chief Kalakaua, who
was a rival candidate for the throne, being conspicuously
resplendent. The basis of the costume appeared to be the Windsor
uniform, but it was smothered with epaulettes, cordons, and lace;
and each dignitary has a uniform peculiar to his office, so that the
display of gold lace was prodigious. The chiefs are so raised above
the common people in height, size, and general nobility of aspect,
that many have supposed them to be of a different race; and the alii
who represented the dwindled order that night were certainly superb
enough in appearance to justify the supposition.
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