sed, while the cheers that greeted
us from the dock were almost incessant and told us in an unmistakable
manner that we were indeed welcome to the "Paradise of the Pacific."

Looking down from the steamer deck one saw people of almost every clime,
the dark complexioned, straight-haired and intelligent-looking natives
being in the majority, their white suits and dark faces adding greatly
to the color of the scene. Pretty girls, too, were very much in
evidence, and the eyes of many of our party strayed in their direction,
especially those of the unmarried men, which variety composed the
majority of our party.

Business in Honolulu the day before had been entirely suspended in
expectation of our arrival, and great was the disappointment when the
day passed without the steamer being sighted. It was then thought that
we would not put in an appearance before Monday, and so, when the word
went around on Sunday morning that the "Alameda" was coming in, the
entire city was taken by surprise and everything was bustle and
confusion.

King Kalakuau had set up a great portion of the night awaiting our
coming, and so disappointed was he when we failed to put in an
appearance that he accumulated an uncomfortable load, and this he was
engaged in sleeping off when he was awakened by his courtiers and
informed of our arrival.

Shortly after we had shaken hands with the members of the reception
committee and the steamer had been made fast to the dock we entered the
carriages that had been provided for us and were driven to the Royal
Hawaiian Hotel, passing by the palace of King Kalakuau on the way. The
streets were in themselves a novelty, being lined by stately palms,
cocoanuts and bananas, laden with fruits and nuts, while there were
flowers everywhere. The hotel, which stood in the center of beautifully
laid out grounds, seemed like some palatial residence, and we were no
sooner seated in the spacious dining-room, with its open windows
extending from floor to ceiling, than the Royal Band began a concert in
the music-stand beneath the windows.

This band was certainly a magnificent one, and one that has but few
equals in the world, or had at that time, it being then under the
leadership of Bandmaster Berger, a musician of the first class.

At breakfast that morning we were served for the first time with the
native dish of "Poi," a pink-colored mush that, to be appreciated, must
be eaten in the native manner, the people to the man