Years following years, steal something every day;
    At last they steal us from ourselves away.

Monday, January 1st, 1877.—­At midnight we were awakened by our ship’s bell, and that of the ‘Fantome,’ being struck violently sixteen times.  For the moment I could not imagine what it meant, and thought it must be an alarm of fire; indeed, it was not until Tom and I reached the deck, where we found nearly all the ship’s company assembled at the top of the companion, and were greeted with wishes for ‘A happy New Year, and many of them,’ that we quite realised that nothing serious was the matter.  Soon the strains of sweet music, proceeding from the Honolulu choirs, which had come out in boats to serenade us, fell upon our ears The choristers remained alongside for more than an hour, singing English and American sacred and secular hymns and songs, and then went off to the ‘Fantome,’ where they repeated the performance.  The moon shone brightly; not a ripple disturbed the surface of the water; the cocoa-trees at Waikiki, and the distant mountains near the Pali, were all clearly defined against the dark blue sky.  It was altogether a romantic and delicious scene, and we found it difficult to tear ourselves away from the sweet sounds which came floating over the sea.

When I again went on deck, at half-past six, there was a large double canoe close to the yacht, crowded with people.  It was difficult to make out what they were doing, for they appeared to be sitting on a great heap of something, piled up between the two canoes.  Our sailors suggested that it must be ‘some sort of a New Year’s set out.’  I ordered the ‘Flash’ to be got ready, and went with the children to make a closer investigation; and, as we approached, we could see that the pile that had puzzled us was a huge fishing-net.  The tide here is very uncertain; but as soon as the water is low enough, they stretch the long net right across the narrow mouth of the harbour, and so secure an enormous quantity of fish of various kinds.  It was a really good New Year’s haul, and provided a hearty meal for a great many people.

Mabelle and I went at twelve o’clock to the Queen’s New Year’s reception, held in the other wing of the palace.  Having driven through the pretty gardens, we were received at the entrance by the Governor, and ushered through two reception rooms into the royal presence.  The Queen was dressed in a European court-dress, of blue and white material, with the Hawaiian Order of the Garter across her breast.  Two maids of honour were also in court-dress.  Of the other ladies, some were in evening, some in morning dress, some with bonnets and some without; but their costumes were all made according to the European fashion, except that of her Highness Ruth, the Governess of Hawaii, who looked wonderfully well in a rich white silk native dress, trimmed with white satin.  She had a necklace of orange-coloured oo feathers round her neck, and dark yellow