IORANA!The South Sea Islanders have beautiful words of welcome with which they meet the stranger. The Samoan greets you withtalofa; the Hawaiian, with a clear, musical voice, welcomes you withaloha nui; and the Tahitian, with an open, friendly face and a smile, when he meets you, addresses you with that beautiful greeting,iorana. These euphonious words mean more than the words of our language intended for the same purpose; they come from the heart and are addressed to the heart much more so than our "Welcome," "How do you do?" "How are you?" or "I am glad to see you." These Polynesian words are not only words of welcome, but carry with them the best wishes of the natives for the stranger; they signify not only a formality, but also express a sincerity which is so often lacking in our conventional meetings with friends and strangers. The visitor who remains long enough in Tahiti to become acquainted with the natives will find that their greeting,iorana, is verified by their actions. The natives, educated and ignorant, young and old, are polite, friendly and hospitable to a fault. They are fond of making little gifts to strangers, and if these are reciprocated, they are really and honestly grateful. The people are charming, the island beautiful, and nature's storehouse never empty of the choicest that the sea can supply and the soil can produce. Any one who has seen Tahiti, the Island Paradise, on leaving it, and ever after, in recalling his experiences and observations in this island of peace, rest, charms and pleasures, will give expression to his feelings by repeating to himself.Isle of Beauty!Absence makes the heart grow fonder:Isle of Beauty, fare thee well!BAYLY.THE END
IORANA!The South Sea Islanders have beautiful words of welcome with which they meet the stranger. The Samoan greets you withtalofa; the Hawaiian, with a clear, musical voice, welcomes you withaloha nui; and the Tahitian, with an open, friendly face and a smile, when he meets you, addresses you with that beautiful greeting,iorana. These euphonious words mean more than the words of our language intended for the same purpose; they come from the heart and are addressed to the heart much more so than our "Welcome," "How do you do?" "How are you?" or "I am glad to see you." These Polynesian words are not only words of welcome, but carry with them the best wishes of the natives for the stranger; they signify not only a formality, but also express a sincerity which is so often lacking in our conventional meetings with friends and strangers. The visitor who remains long enough in Tahiti to become acquainted with the natives will find that their greeting,iorana, is verified by their actions. The natives, educated and ignorant, young and old, are polite, friendly and hospitable to a fault. They are fond of making little gifts to strangers, and if these are reciprocated, they are really and honestly grateful. The people are charming, the island beautiful, and nature's storehouse never empty of the choicest that the sea can supply and the soil can produce. Any one who has seen Tahiti, the Island Paradise, on leaving it, and ever after, in recalling his experiences and observations in this island of peace, rest, charms and pleasures, will give expression to his feelings by repeating to himself.Isle of Beauty!Absence makes the heart grow fonder:Isle of Beauty, fare thee well!BAYLY.THE END
The South Sea Islanders have beautiful words of welcome with which they meet the stranger. The Samoan greets you withtalofa; the Hawaiian, with a clear, musical voice, welcomes you withaloha nui; and the Tahitian, with an open, friendly face and a smile, when he meets you, addresses you with that beautiful greeting,iorana. These euphonious words mean more than the words of our language intended for the same purpose; they come from the heart and are addressed to the heart much more so than our "Welcome," "How do you do?" "How are you?" or "I am glad to see you." These Polynesian words are not only words of welcome, but carry with them the best wishes of the natives for the stranger; they signify not only a formality, but also express a sincerity which is so often lacking in our conventional meetings with friends and strangers. The visitor who remains long enough in Tahiti to become acquainted with the natives will find that their greeting,iorana, is verified by their actions. The natives, educated and ignorant, young and old, are polite, friendly and hospitable to a fault. They are fond of making little gifts to strangers, and if these are reciprocated, they are really and honestly grateful. The people are charming, the island beautiful, and nature's storehouse never empty of the choicest that the sea can supply and the soil can produce. Any one who has seen Tahiti, the Island Paradise, on leaving it, and ever after, in recalling his experiences and observations in this island of peace, rest, charms and pleasures, will give expression to his feelings by repeating to himself.
Isle of Beauty!Absence makes the heart grow fonder:Isle of Beauty, fare thee well!BAYLY.
Isle of Beauty!
Absence makes the heart grow fonder:
Isle of Beauty, fare thee well!
BAYLY.
THE END