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CHAP. XIV. DINNER GIVEN BY THE QUEEN. 385 and chief officers of the government. Property appeared to be estimated, not by the extent of land which a man possessed, but by the number of his dollars, slaves, or cattle ; hence, an individual, speaking on one occasion of the losses he had suf fered, concluded by saying, “Formerly I had fifty slaves; now I have not twenty.” At three o’clock on the day appointed, an officer came to conduct me to the dinner; and after ascending by a somewhat steep path to the crest of the hill on which the house stands, we reached the front court, where the queen’s hand, in scarlet uniform (apparently English), was stationed beneath the verandah. On entering, I was received by a number of servants dressed in a sort of livery, consisting of blue jackets bordered with red. I was politely received by the owner of the house, a number of officers, and other company, amongst whom were M. Laborde, and the Catholic priest with whom I had breakfasted. When dinner was announced, we were shown to our respective places, which were designated by papers bearing our names placed on the table. Mine was on the left hand of the chief officer, and M. Laborde’s was im mediately opposite. The room was large and lofty, furnished with looking- glasses, and other articles of European or Asiatic manufac ture, having a large sideboard at one end. The table was splendidly furnished with porcelain vases, filled with artificial flowers, and silver vases the size of wine coolers along the centre. The covered dishes, spoons and forks, were all silver; the dishes as well as the vases being of native manufacture, after English patterns, and remarkably well executed. On all these articles, as well as on the handles of the knives, a crown, and a bird, the crest of the Hovas, were engraved. As soon as all were seated, my friend the secretary, who sat next me, intimated in English, that as I was a stranger, and the queen’s guest, I should now propose her majesty’s
