{"id":"01KG8AKVEEHX5V9Q1FDC5SPYHT","cid":"bafkreidq4oiisk632lmyvx2lqlxpyyrpumbu2qs4dplnza3t7nexcjxfqe","type":"chunk","properties":{"end_line":8986,"extracted_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:15.153Z","extracted_by":"structure-extraction-lambda","label":"Chunk 3","source_file":"01KG89J1H7Y803CZ7X80F0QFHZ","start_line":8945,"text":"practised his vocation in the Sandwich Islands; and delighted with the\r\nsport of bidding upon his wares, the king was one of his best\r\ncustomers. At last he besought the man to leave all and follow him, and\r\nhe should be handsomely provided for at court. But the auctioneer\r\nrefused; and so the ivory hammer lost the chance of being borne before\r\nhim on a velvet cushion when the next king went to be crowned.\r\n\r\nBut it was not as strolling players, nor as footmen out of employ, that\r\nthe doctor and myself looked forward to our approaching introduction to\r\nthe court of the Queen of Tahiti. On the contrary, as before hinted, we\r\nexpected to swell the appropriations of bread-fruit and cocoa-nuts on\r\nthe Civil List by filling some honourable office in her gift.\r\n\r\nWe were told that, to resist the usurpation of the French, the queen\r\nwas rallying about her person all the foreigners she could. Her\r\npartiality for the English and Americans was well known; and this was\r\nan additional ground for our anticipating a favourable reception. Zeke\r\nhad informed us, moreover, that by the queen’s counsellors at\r\nPartoowye, a war of aggression against the invaders of Papeetee had\r\nbeen seriously thought of. Should this prove true, a surgeon’s\r\ncommission for the doctor, and a lieutenancy for myself, were certainly\r\ncounted upon in our sanguine expectations.\r\n\r\nSuch, then, were our views, and such our hopes in projecting a trip to\r\nTaloo. But in our most lofty aspirations we by no means lost sight of\r\nany minor matters which might help us to promotion. The doctor had\r\ninformed me that he excelled in playing the fiddle. I now suggested\r\nthat, as soon as we arrived at Partoowye, we should endeavour to borrow\r\na violin for him; or if this could not be done, that he should\r\nmanufacture some kind of a substitute, and, thus equipped, apply for an\r\naudience of the queen. Her well-known passion for music would at once\r\nsecure his admittance; and so, under the most favourable auspices,\r\nbring about our introduction to her notice.\r\n\r\n“And who knows,” said my waggish comrade, throwing his head back and\r\nperforming an imaginary air by briskly drawing one arm across the\r\nother, “who knows that I may not fiddle myself into her majesty’s good\r\ngraces so as to became a sort of Rizzio to the Tahitian princess.”\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r","title":"Chunk 3"},"relationships":[{"peer":"01KG8AJMW29HSTF991W8C0ZGZQ","peer_type":"chapter","predicate":"in"},{"peer":"01KG89J1H7Y803CZ7X80F0QFHZ","peer_type":"file","predicate":"extractedFrom"},{"peer":"01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW","peer_type":"collection","predicate":"collection"},{"peer":"01KG8AKVEE8E132YZ2405NGVV6","peer_type":"chunk","predicate":"prev"}],"ver":2,"created_at":"2026-01-30T20:48:17.870Z","ts":"2026-01-30T20:48:31.306Z","edited_by":{"method":"manual","user_id":"01KFF0H3YRP9ZSM033AM0QJ47H"}}