The Prince, after a time, rose and proposed the King
of England's health, which was accordingly drank in a
cup of sackee. In return we gave the King of Loo-choo.
As the surgeon had desired Captain Maxwell to drink no
wine, there was very little drank at the Prince's table ; but
a t the others every art was used to circulate the sackee pot.
Indeed, little persuasion was required, for the sackee,
though not strong, was very good. Ookooma presided at
the table occupied by the officers, and Jeero'at that where
the midshipmen sat.
Ookooma having remarked onboard, that whenever the
King's health was drank, whether his Majesty of England,
or of Loo-choo, the cups were always freely emptied, took
advantage of this loyalty of sentiment, and gave “ The
King of Injeree’s health” three or four times over, to which,
of course, the officers were obliged to reply, by giving
“ The King of Loo-choo” as often. He carried this rather
farther than is customary with us on similar occasions, for
observing that the company were rather backward in eating
a bowl of sweet rice-meal porridge, he stood up with his
bowl in his hand, and calling out “ King of Injeree h ealth!”
swallowed the whole of it, and invited the rest to follow his
example.
The Prince seemed to enjoy the mirth of the other
tables very much ; he was himself more cheerful and disengaged
than when we first saw him, though he appears
to be naturally a silent man. Ookooma, by overacting
his part, got, we thought, a little tipsy, and came several
times into the state chamber, talking louder than was
proper, but of this the Prince took no notice. When
Ookooma came near my chair, I whispered to him, “ Y a
weetee,” (you are d ru n k ;) he turned round, and affecting to
be angry, called out, “ Weetee nang,” (I am not drunk)
in a voice and manner which were in direct contradiction
to his assertion : his subsequent behaviour, however, was so
correct and sedate when the feast broke up, and all were
again upon duty, that he was probably merely pretending
to be tipsy, in order to suit what was considered to be the
humour of the company.
On rising to depart, the Prince led Captain Maxwell by
the hand, not only through the gate, but about twenty yards
along the causeway; here he stopped and took leave. Captain
Maxwell availed himself of this opportunity to repeat,
for the last time, his thanks in the name of his government,
for the numerous attentions and marks of kindness which we
had received. He requested that what he had said might
be communicated to the King, and assured the Prince, in
the most earnest and respectful manner, that all the circum-
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