On the grass plot before the governor's house were heaped up various sorts of provisions, such as salt meat, bacon, bread, baked pork, fruits, etc.; but instead of the guests taking their places all around, as we had supposed they would have done, the chiefs divided everything into different portions, and each carried his share home.

In the evening there were fireworks, and a ball.
No part of the entertainment amused me more than the ball, where I witnessed the most startling contrasts of art and nature.

Elegant Frenchwomen side by side with their brown, awkward sisters, and the staff officers in full uniform, in juxta-position with the half- naked islanders.

Many of the natives wore, on this occasion, broad white trousers, with a shirt over them; but there were others who had no other garments than the ordinary short shirt and the pareo.
One of the chiefs who appeared in this costume, and was afflicted with Elephantiasis, {76} offered a most repulsive spectacle.
This evening I saw Queen Pomare for the first time.

She is a woman of 36 years of age, tall and stout, but tolerably well preserved--as a general rule, I found that the women here fade much less quickly than in other warm climates--her face is far from ugly, and there is a most good-natured expression round her mouth, and the lower portion of her face.