- end_line
- 11273
- extracted_at
- 2026-01-30T20:48:15.153Z
- extracted_by
- structure-extraction-lambda
- start_line
- 11210
- text
- sets of globes and mathematical instruments; the finest porcelain;
richly-mounted sabres and fowling-pieces; laced hats and sumptuous
garments of all sorts, with numerous other matters of European
manufacture, were strewn about among greasy calabashes half-filled with
“poee,” rolls of old tappa and matting, paddles and fish-spears, and
the ordinary furniture of a Tahitian dwelling.
All the articles first mentioned were, doubtless, presents from foreign
powers. They were more or less injured: the fowling-pieces and swords
were rusted; the finest woods were scratched; and a folio volume of
Hogarth lay open, with a cocoa-nut shell of some musty preparation
capsized among the miscellaneous furniture of the Rake’s apartment,
where that inconsiderate young gentleman is being measured for a coat.
While we were amusing ourselves in this museum of curiosities, our
conductor plucked us by the sleeve, and whispered, “Pomaree! Pomaree!
armai kow kow.”
“She is coming to sup, then,” said the doctor, staring in the direction
indicated. “What say you, Paul, suppose we step up?” Just then a
curtain near by lifted, and from a private building a few yards distant
the queen entered, unattended.
She wore a loose gown of blue silk, with two rich shawls, one red and
the other yellow, tied about her neck. Her royal majesty was
barefooted.
She was about the ordinary size, rather matronly; her features not very
handsome; her mouth, voluptuous; but there was a care-worn expression
in her face, probably attributable to her late misfortunes. From her
appearance, one would judge her about forty; but she is not so old.
As the queen approached one of the recesses, her attendants hurried up,
escorted her in, and smoothed the mats on which she at last reclined.
Two girls soon appeared, carrying their mistress’ repast; and then,
surrounded by cut-glass and porcelain, and jars of sweetmeats and
confections, Pomaree Vahinee I., the titular Queen of Tahiti, ate fish
and “poee” out of her native calabashes, disdaining either knife or
spoon.
“Come on,” whispered Long Ghost, “let’s have an audience at once;” and
he was on the point of introducing himself, when our guide, quite
alarmed, held him back and implored silence. The other natives also
interfered, and, as he was pressing forward, raised such an outcry that
Pomaree lifted her eyes and saw us for the first.
She seemed surprised and offended, and, issuing an order in a
commanding tone to several of her women, waved us out of the house.
Summary as the dismissal was, court etiquette, no doubt, required our
compliance. We withdrew; making a profound inclination as we
disappeared behind the tappa arras.
We departed the ground without seeing Marbonna; and previous to
vaulting over the picket, feed our pretty guide after a fashion of our
own. Looking round a few moments after, we saw the damsel escorted back
by two men, who seemed to have been sent after her. I trust she
received nothing more than a reprimand.
The next day Po-Po informed us that strict orders had been issued to
admit no strangers within the palace precincts.
- title
- Chunk 3