Evening star., 1897-05-15

erick. but that dusky sovereign was per-
mitted to retain his rather dilapidated
formally taken from the hands of his sue
cessors. Nicaragua Is oyer-lord of the
Mosquito coast, just Turkey is of Egypt.
Moreover, the republic paid annually until
few years ago the sum of 5000 for the
use of the king and his numerous family.
This pension has been discontinued.
King George Charles Frederick, who sue
cceded his father, King Robert. was
faineant monarch, who cOntented himself
with his Nicaraguan pension, and drank
himself into an early grave. The independ-
ence of Mosquitoland would have complete
ly passed away but for the cunning of the
kings prime minister. a young Irishman
named Patrick Walker, who secured the
succession to the Princess Victoria. a dusky
belle. who had been united in marriage to
her cousin, George Handy. The issue of
this union is the present king, George Will
liam Albert.
The King mt Home.
A description of the only existing Ameri-
can king, by one who knows him intimate
ly, may prove of interest. Arthur F. Sand
ham of Roxbury. Mass has recently re-
| turned from sojourn of years on the Mos
quito coast. In speaking of King George
he says: Il know the king well. He was
born in Al, and is really intelligent chap
The Indian and the negro are about equally
strong in him. while there Is just family
discernible leaven of white His palace lay
just out of Bluef1elds. but at present he
lives in Jamaica, on $50 day from Great
Britain.
THE king resided when at home with
his wife, mother and grandmother. The
center hut was reserved for George Fred
erick Albert and his duSky consort. The
cares of state (Which in truth are few the
king left to his prime minister, an Amerf-
can named Cuthbert but in all cases OF
litigation among his subjects the monarch
acted supreme judge and jury. When
| hav, o1
under the trees and smokes cigarettes. His
wife, Queen Elizabeth Victoria, Is addicted
| to the use of clay pipes.
The kings costume Is. except on ultra
state occasions, very light and airy. A pair
| of white duck pantaloons and webwcrk
shirt form his everyday dress. On grand
occasions he dons a somewhat faded, but
| still gorgeous uniform. once worn by eX-
Prime Minister Patrick Walker, when color
sergeant of the Royal Kilkenny militia. and
| bequeathed to King George as loken of
affection.
Likes Rum md Ale.
The king is not a drunkard, like his un-
| Gle King George Charles Frederick, but he
| likes rum and does not abhor whisky. His
| favorite tipple is English pale ale; casks of
| hich are smuggled to him from British
| Honduras. AS l was anxious to secure
| mahogany concessions. and willing to pay
for them the king and Premier Cuthbert
were quite friendly with me, and l was a
| guest at a dinner of honor. l wrote out the
! menu of that dinner in exact order that
! same evening. 1t ran as follows:
Chicken With Herbs.
Rum.
F'ricassse of Young Monkey
| Rye Whisky.
Green Turtle with Broth.
Brandy and Soda.
Oysters.
| Pale Ale.
1T will be seen that the ingenious chef
| On this occasion inverted the usual order OF
| menu Notwithstanding with the roast
and ending with the oysters.
| After dinner We sat and enjoyed a smoke
| under the trees while two servants kept off
the insects with long palm branches.
| The Moravians and Catholics have mis-
| sions in the kings territory. but they can
against paganism: The I'd fnafai fites afa
| superstitions rule among the Mosquitoes,
! mixed with little Voodoo from their ne
| gro forbears. Children are betrothed at ten
| or eleven years, and married at thirteen or
| fourteen. l witnessed Mosquito funeral
| with its curious attendant ceremonies. The
| dead man was Prince William Henry
| George Handy, cousin of his majesty He
| was inferred in almost indecent haste; and
| all his live stock-dogs. cattle and ponies
were killed over his grave. 1t is the ma
| tfonal creed that the deceased will need all
| his earthly belongings in the next world
| After the slaughter cotton thread was
| fixed to wand in the grave, and stretched
| thence, despite every obstacle. to the dead
| mans hut. No person was permitted to
touch that string during three days and
| nights. that time being, it was believed,
/ the space allowed to the ghost Of Prince
William to Go his last earthly visiting. The
string was intended to guide the spirit to-
ward his earthly habitation. On the fourth
| day the string was cut down. and on the
fifth the supposedly disconsolate widow be-
came the wife of the deceased's brother,
| according to Mosquito law. With the
| wedding, which was performed by his ma
| jesty, the funeral celebrations ended. and
| every one made haste to forget the de-
parted Prince William Henry George
| The Royal Line.
| Such are the king of the Mosquito coast
and Of his people as Mr. Sandman has learn