298

A RIDE TO WAITITI.

benefit of the air, in the labour of his arms, legs, andfeet, necessary in the management of his horse, or, froma fear of injuring it by a fall, he committed an elegantcap of velvet and gold to an attendant, and rode bare-headed. Three or four of the native teachers, in goodAmerican clothes, but most wretchedly mounted, kepthim company; while a large number of servants, coveredonly by a few dirty strips of native cloth, scamperedalong, some behind and some before, on horses asshabby and uncivilized as their riders.

My charger was the Mission horse; a raw-boned, high-hipped, long, lean old animal, quite characteristic ofthe whole establishment. You can readily imagine, thatthis escort of horsemen to the royal equipage—some ofthe horses kicking and running, while the ragged tapasand long hair of the riders were streaming in the air,others balking and backing, and others again standingin stubborn fixedness in spite of whipping and goading,—made no common spectacle; especially, when viewed inconnection with a large train of attendants, in everycolour and variety of drapery, bearing Chinese um-brellas of yellow and crimson damask, different colouredkahiles, calabashes of refreshments, tobacco-pipes, andspittoons; some running and hooting after the carriageof their mistress, and others standing in silent admira-tion of the skill of the horsemen and the various tem-pers of the beasts.

On reaching the settlement, the coffin was still un-finished ; and I improved the necessary delay in visitinga large heiau, which had often attracted my attention,situated about a mile above the bay and groves of