The Hawaiian gazette., 1904-08-30

Royalty graced the festal board on
the American schooner Marconi a few
weeks ago. While the navy is boasting
of the attentions paid to the Atlantic
squadron by the sovereigns of Europe,
we should not overlook the compile
ment paid to our merchant fleet by
the crowned heads of the South Pacific,
and the investing of Captain Lawson of
the schooner Marconi with the Order
of the Gugu by His Royal Majesty the
King of the Moki Islands is an honor
that rebounds much 10 the credit of
the mercantile navy of the United
States.
About six weeks ago the Marconi
which arrived here yesterday with coal
from Newcastle, was becalmed off the
island of Moki in the South Seas when
the lookout deserted bunch of war
canoes ms4ing off from the shore. As
the fleet came nearer it was seen TO be
a squadron of the Royal Navy escorting
no less a parsonage than His Majesty
himself, accompanied by the Crown
Prince and a dazzling array of the
princes of the blood royal and mobiles
of the realm. Hasty preparations were
made on board the schooner for the
reception of the distinguished party, the
nd trim m 10
peak and the crew assembled. AS no
copy of the royal standard of Moki
could be found among the Marconi's set
of flags no royal salute was fired but
all the other demands of etiquette We're
complied with.
AsNthe royal yacht came alongside the
starboard gangway the crew came to
attention and the sideboys saluted.
Captain Lawson received the King in
full uniform on the quarter deck. His
Majesty was robed in full tropic rega-
liza, wearing a pleasant smile and the
Imperial malo, which was made of bril-
liant red calico. The Crown Prince was
dressed in similar style although with
less ella borateness.
After the customary formalities the
King took a seat which had been pre-
pared for him in the midst of his no.
bles and the entire party partook of a
sumptuous repast of ship biscuit which
was pronounced a most dainty luxury
by the Mokians. Following the banquet
Captain Lawson in a few well chosen
words presented TO His Majesty, on be-
half of the President and people of the
United States, a silk hat such as is
worn by ward bosses in the United
States. To His Royal Highness the
Crown Prince We're presented a tin
butcher knife with a wooden handle
and a pair of overalls. These latter
caused great interest among the royal
party. At first the King was doubtful
whether it was polite TO allow the
Prince to wear such elaborate robes
but he was finally persuaded that his
silk hat was a mark of superiority that
no amount of overalls could overcome
The royalties We're so much overcome
by the munificence of the Americans
that the King presented Captain Law
son with several handfulls of silver
British two-shilling pieces of which
there are a great abundance in the is
lands. The Prince gave his hat, an
immense straw creation, as big as
haystack, which would make any thea
foregoing woman green with jealousy
In addition TO these marks of royal IA
vor the Prince himself danced sort of
hoe down" on the quarter deck ar
rayed in the new overalls, wearing the
Kings new crown and brandshing the
tin butcher knife.
After these ceremonies His Majesty
invited Captain Lawson and his officers
ashore to a grand luau to be held in
the royal palace but remembering the
fate OF some missionaries in years
gone by he replied with rare tact.
Thanks, Your Majesty, but ] don't
want to be in the soup" The Kings
invitation was In broken English.
Where he learned this and where the
piles OF silver two-shllng pieces. the
value OF which does not seem To- be
comprehended boy the natives, came
from remains d profound mystery