Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.2): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

544 VISIT — FIREWORKS SONGS. NoV. We were told that the queen had walked to Papawa, distant about two miles, to inspect a quantity of fruit, cocoa-nuts, pine-apples, &c. (which she had ordered to be collected as a present to the man-of-war) : and, with our glasses, we saw the royal party hastening along the beach, and in the midst of a number of women, children, and men, the queen was observed advancing at a quick walk. Soon afterwards, when it was supposed she had rested and dressed, we sent the boats. The chiefs were already on board. Mr. Pritchard undertook the troublesome offices of interpreter and master of the ceremonies, and by his assistance we saw the whole party collected on the Beagle's upper deck, while the seamen manned yards, and we all gave the queen three cheers. A bad dinner, accepted after the four mile walk, in a manner it did not deserve, — was succeeded by a few rockets, blue lights, and false fires, — the only fireworks we possessed. Luc- kily the rockets were good and gave high satisfaction. Lying in the middle of a bay, whose radius, supposing it semi-cir- cular, may be half-a-niile, our ears were startled by a thrilling outcry of delight echoing around the beach, as each successive rocket rushed into the sky and burst. This outcry from the natives on shore, who were taken by surprise (the night being very dark) showed how much they enjoyed the sight. Our visitors on board, being told what would happen, only re- peated ' maitai,' ' maitai,'* with earnestness. I much wished then to have had a few good fireworks of a more artificial character. To any one about to visit distant, especially half- civilized or savage nations, let me repeat a piece of advice given to me, but which from inadvertence I neglected to fol- low : " take a large stock of fireworks." Some presents to each of our guests helped to amuse them and keep up their cheerfulness. After tea I proposed hearing a few of the seamen's, songs, — as some of our crew were very good singers, — not at the time thinking of their prejudices against any singing except hymns. Mr. Pritchard had no word to interpret ' song' but ' himene ;' and Rule Britannia, * Very good — beautiful. 1