59. CHAPTER LIX.
Not wholly is our world made up of bright stars and
bright eyes: so now to our story.
A conscientious host should ever be up betimes, to
look after the welfare of his guests, and see to it that
their day begin auspiciously. King Media announced the
advent of the sun, by rustling at my bower's eaves in person.
A repast was spread in an adjoining arbor, which Media's
pages had smoothed for our reception, and where his
subordinate chiefs were in attendance. Here we reclined
upon mats. Balmy and fresh blew the breath of the morning;
golden vapors were upon the mountains, silver sheen
upon the grass; and the birds were at matins in the groves;
their bright plumage flashing into view, here and there, as
if some rainbow were crouching in the foliage.
Spread before us were viands, served in quaint-shaped,
curiously-dyed gourds, not Sevres, but almost as tasteful;
and like true porcelain, fire had tempered them. Green and
yielding, they are plucked from the tree; and emptied of
their pulp, are scratched over with minute marks, like those
of a line engraving. The ground prepared, the various
figures are carefully etched. And the outlines filled up with
delicate punctures, certain vegetable oils are poured over
them, for coloring. Filled with a peculiar species of earth,
the gourd is now placed in an oven in the ground. And in
due time exhumed, emptied of its contents, and washed in
the stream, it presents a deep-dyed exterior; every figure
distinctly traced and opaque, but the ground semi-transparent.
In some cases, owing to the variety of dyes employed, each
figure is of a different hue.
More glorious goblets than these for the drinking of wine,
went never from hand to mouth. Capacious as pitchers,
they almost superseded decanters.
Now, in a tropical climate, fruit, with light wines, forms
the only fit meal of a morning. And with orchards and
vineyards forever in sight, who but the Hetman of the Cossacs
would desire more? We had plenty of the juice of
the grape. But of this hereafter; there are some fine old
cellars, and plenty of good cheer in store.
During the repast, Media, for a time, was much taken up
with our raiment. He begged me to examine for a moment
the texture of his right royal robe, and observe how much
superior it was to my own. It put my mantle to the
blush; being tastefully stained with rare devices in red and
black; and bordered with dyed fringes of feathers, and tassels
of red birds' claws.
Next came under observation the Skyeman's Guayaquil
hat; at whose preposterous shape, our host laughed in derision;
clapping a great conical calabash upon the head of an
attendant, and saying that now he was Jarl. At this, and
all similar sallies, Samoa was sure to roar louder than any;
though mirth was no constitutional thing with him. But
he seemed rejoiced at the opportunity of turning upon us
the ridicule, which as a barbarian among whites, he himself
had so often experienced.
These pleasantries over, King Media very slightly drew
himself up, as if to make amends for his previous unbending.
He discoursed imperially with his chiefs; nodded his sovereign
will to his pages; called for another gourd of wine;
in all respects carrying his royalty bravely.
The repast concluded, we journeyed to the canoe-house,
where we found the little Chamois stabled like a steed.
One solitary depredation had been committed. Its sides
and bottom had been completely denuded of the minute
green barnacles, and short sea-grass, which, like so many
leeches, had fastened to our planks during our long, lazy
voyage.
By the people they had been devoured as dainties.
