The Hawaiian Archipelago - Six Months Among The Palm Groves, Coral Reefs, And Volcanoes Of The Sandwich Islands By Isabella L. Bird
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He Is Remarkably Gentlemanly Looking, And Has The
Grace Of Movement Which Seems Usual With Hawaiians.
When he landed
he wore a dark morning suit and a black felt hat.
As soon as he stepped on shore, the natives, who were in crowds on
the beach, cheered, yelled, and waved their hats and handkerchiefs,
and then a procession was formed, or rather formed itself, to escort
him to the governor's house. A rabble of children ran in front,
then came the king, over whom the natives had thrown some beautiful
garlands of ohia and maile (Alyxia olivaeformis), with the governor
on one side and the sheriff on the other, the chamberlain and
adjutant-general walking behind. Then a native staggering under the
weight of an enormous Hawaiian flag, the Hilo band, with my friend
Upa beating the big drum, and an irregular rabble (i.e. unorganised
crowd) of men, women, and children, going at a trot to keep up with
the king's rapid strides. The crowd was unwilling to disperse even
when he entered the house, and he came out and made a short speech,
the gist of which was that he was delighted to see his native
subjects, and would hold a reception for them on the ensuing Monday,
when we shall see a most interesting sight, a native crowd gathered
from all Southern Hawaii for a hookupu, an old custom, signifying
the bringing of gift-offerings to a king or chief.
In the afternoon Dr. Wetmore and I rode to the beautiful Puna woods
on a botanising excursion.
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