ner born plunging a
forefinger into the dish, giving it a peculiar twist that causes it to
cling, and then depositing it between the lips, where the "Poi" remains
and the finger is again ready to seek the dish. In eating in such a
fashion Frank Flint would have had away the best of it, and, as it was,
I noticed both then and afterward that men like Williamson, Ward and
others, who boasted of a base-ball finger, managed to get away with
something more than their share of the delicacy.

On the balconies after breakfast we again listened to the sweet strains
of the "Aloha Oe," the welcome song of the native Islanders, with which
we had been greeted on our arrival at the docks.

As we stood on the balconies taking in the beautiful sights by which we
were surrounded, we were informed that his majesty, "the King of the
Cannibal Islands," as some members of the party irreverently referred to
him, would be pleased to receive us at eleven o'clock at the palace. An
invitation from a King is equivalent to a command, and so we at once
made ready for the reception. When the appointed hour arrived Clarence
Duval, clad in the full regalia of a drum major, took his place at the
head of the Royal Band, which had formed in front of the hotel, and
behind the music, headed by United States Minister Morrill and Mr.
Spalding, were the members of the two teams in double file, the ladies
following in carriages. In this order the procession marched to the
palace, where the King and his cabinet were awaiting our arrival.

The grounds surrounding the palace were beautiful, indeed, and as we
reached the massive portico at the entrance the band formed on one side
as, with hats off, we filed up the steps, being met on the landing by
members of the King's Cabinet, and by attendants, who directed us to the
blue room, where we deposited our hats and canes. We were then requested
to follow Minister Morrill, who took Mr. Spalding's arm and led the way
across a great hall hung with pictures of the Island's dead-and-gone
rulers, and into the throne room, the latter an imposing apartment large
enough for several hundred couples to dance in, where the King, arrayed
in citizen's clothes, stood before his throne with a Gentleman of Honor
in court costume on either side. Minister Morrill introduced Mr.
Spalding to the King, and he in turn introduced the other members of our
party as they filed in by him, be bowing to each of the party as the
name was mentione