About eleven o'clock
`` In the morning all was again bustle , preparing for a sumptuous dinner for the king , in which there behoved not to be forgot a huge plum-pudding , and a roast pig , two dishes upon which depend the good or ill humour of his Majesty ; and the larger the fragments are , the better is his humour , as all that is not consumed at the time is taken ashore with him . It was necessary that everything of value should be carefully put out of sight ; for the moment it attracts the attention of the king , he will immediately ask for it , and never cease to importune until he has obtained it . There is no use in refusing , if you mean to trade ; and all you can do , is to make the best terms for yourself you can , on the principle of present for present . `` About eleven o'clock , we heard from the shore a confused sound of drums and horns ; and , soon after , the royal canoe , formed of one single tree , put off in great state , with nearly one hundred men paddling her along , her colours flying , and about a dozen of musicians in her bow , some blowing upon antelopes ' horns , others beating upon drums and other things , and the remainder chanting or singing in a voice as melodious as the horns and drums . His Majesty sat upon a platform , in an arm-chair , in the centre of the canoe , surrounded by his favourites , all of whom he invites to his feasts . They were dressed agreeably to their tastes -- his Majesty 's uniform consisting of a cocked hat , a blue laced coat and red vest , with a shirt ruffled at breast and wristbands , and about six or seven yards of calico wrapped round his loins ; while his legs and feet were wrapped in flannel , as he was at this time suffering from gout . He appeared to be about fifty years of age , portly in his appearance , but extremely fat .