She was enveloped in a sky-blue satin gown, or rather, sort of blouse, ornamented all round with two rows of rich black blond.

She wore large jessamine blossoms in her ears, and a wreath of flowers in her hair, while in her hand she carried a fine pocket handkerchief beautifully embroidered, and ornamented with broad lace.

In honour of the evening, she had forced her feet into shoes and stockings, though on other occasions she went barefoot.
The entire costume was a present from the King of the French.
The queen's husband, who is younger than herself, is the handsomest man in Tahiti.

The French jokingly call him the Prince Albert of Tahiti, not only on account of his good looks, but because, like Prince Albert in England, he is not named "the king," but simply, "the queen's consort." He had on the uniform of a French general, which became him very well; the more so, that he was not in the least embarrassed in it.

The only drawback were his feet, which were very ugly and awkward.
Besides these two high personages, there was in the company another crowned head, namely, King Otoume, the owner of one of the neighbouring islands.