This  turned  out  to  be  the  surgeon,  who  had  been
instantly  sent  for,  and  who,  in  common  with  the

VOL.  I.  X


242  LOO-CHOO.
fliiefs,  was  horror-struck  at  the  accident.  The  Es-
culapius,  however,  soon  recovered  liis  composure
and  confidence,  on  observing  that  although  the  fin-
ger was  broken,  and  one  of  the  jomts  dislocated,  his
patient  was  perfectly  tranquil.
A  deputation  of  the  chiefs  went  on  board  the
Alceste  early  next  morning,  to  announce  that  the
Prince  of  the  island,  the  person  next  in  rank  to
the  King,  and  heir-apparent  to  the  throne,  meant
to  come  on  board  the  frigate  to  pay  a  visit  of  ce-
remony, and  to  inquire  after  Captain  Maxwell's
health.  Accordingly,  at  noon,  four  of  the  senior
chiefs,  dressed  in  their  best  state  silks,  and  caps,
came  on  board  to  announce  the  approach  of  the
Prince,  who,  in  about  half  an  hour  afterwards,  we
could  observe  through  our  glasses,  was  brought  in
a  closed  sedan-chair  to  his  boat.  A  lane  was  then
opened  for  him,  through  a  vast  concourse  of  people,
to  whom  he  seemed  almost  as  rare  a  sight  as  to  us.
The  state-boat,  which  was  a  large  flat-bottomed
barge,  covered  with  an  awning  of  dark-blue  silk,
with  white  stars  on  it^  and  not  unlike  a  hearse  in
appearance,  was  preceded  by  two  other  boats,  bear-
ing flags,  with  a  long  inscription  upon  each  :  in  the
bow  stood  an  officer  of  justice,  carrying  a  lackered
bamboo,  and  in  the  stem  a  man  beating  a  gong.
