ed, during
their visit to England, by a good artist. Their Majesties are depicted
in the height of the fashion of the day, the king wearing a blue coat
and brass buttons, with many orders on his breast, the queen having on
a very short-waisted, tight-fitting white satin dress, a turban
surmounted by a tremendous plume of white feathers, and a pearl
necklace and bracelets: rather a trying costume for a handsome woman
with a dark complexion and portly figure. They both died in England,
and their remains were brought back here for burial, in H.M.S.
'Blonde,' commanded by Lord Byron. There was also a portrait of
Admiral Thomas, whose memory is highly reverenced here for the happy
way in which he succeeded in terminating the disputes arising out of
our claim to the island in 1843, and in restoring King Kamehameha III.
to his own again.

[Illustration: Feathered Cloak and Helmets.]

The collection likewise included excellent portraits of Louis Philippe
and Napoleon III. Curiously enough, each of these was sent off from
France to the Sandwich Islands, by way of Cape Horn, while the
original was in the zenith of his power and fame; and each reached its
destination after the original had been deposed and had fled to
England for refuge.

But the most interesting object of all was still to come--the real
feather cloak, cape, and girdle of the Kamehamehas, not generally to
be seen, except at a coronation or christening, but which the Princess
Kamakaeha, in her capacity of Mistress of the Robes, had kindly
ordered to be put out for my inspection. The cloak, which is now the
only one of the kind in existence, is about eleven feet long by five
broad, and is composed of the purest yellow, or rather golden,
feathers, which, in the sunlight, are perfectly gorgeous, as they have
a peculiar kind of metallic lustre, quite independent of their
brilliant colour.

[Illustration: The Pali-Oahu]

On leaving the palace I had intended to get some lunch at the hotel,
but found that establishment was closed to the general public, and was
in the possession of a native teetotal society; so I was obliged to
return to the yacht. At half-past three, however, we all went ashore
again, and set out on horseback, a large party, for an excursion to
the Pali, the children, servants, and provisions preceding us in a
light two-horse American wagon. We rode through the Nuuanu Avenue, and
then up the hills, along a moderately good road, for about seven mile