PREFACEThe far-away little island of Tahiti is the gem of the South Pacific Ocean. If any place in this world deserves to be called a paradise, Tahiti can make this claim. This charming spot in the wide expanse of the peaceful ocean has attractions which we look for in vain anywhere else. From a distance, the grandeur of its frowning cliffs rivets the eye, and, in coming nearer, its tropic beauty charms the visitor and imprints upon his memory pictures single and panoramic that neither distance nor time can efface. The scenic beauty of this island is unsurpassed. The calming air, redolent with the perfume of fragrant flowers of exquisite beauty, on the seashore, in the valleys and on the precipitous mountain sides; the luxuriant vegetation; the forest fruit-gardens and the sweet music of the surf remind one of the original habitation of man. The natives, a childlike people, friendly, courteous and hospitable, are the happiest people on earth, free from care and worries which in other less favored parts of the world make life a drudgery.Tahiti is the only place in the world where the people are not obliged to work. The forests furnish bread and fruit and the sea teems with fish. The climate is so mild that the wearing of clothing is rather a matter of choice than of necessity, and the bamboo huts that can be made with little or no expense in half a day with the willing help of the neighbors, meet all the requirements of a home. The stranger will find here throughout the year a climate and surroundings admirably adapted to calm his nervous system and procure repose and sleep.In writing this little book I have made free use of the "Memoirs of Arrii Taimai E., Marama of Eimeo, Terii rere of Tooarai, Terii nui of Tahiti, Tauraatua I Amo" (Paris, 1901). The authoress was the mother of Tati, one of the most influential present chiefs of Tahiti, and, as her several titles show, she was of noble birth. She was an eye-witness of many of the most stirring political events in the history of the island. Only fifty copies of this book were printed and only three remained in possession of her son. He was kind enough to give me one of them, which, after making liberal use of it, I presented to the library of the University of Chicago, through its late lamented president, Dr. W. R. Harper. I also acknowledge my indebtedness to the works of Captain Cook, "A Voyage to the Pacific" (London, 1784), and to the book of Baron Ferd. von Mueller, "Select Extra-tropical Plants" (Melbourne, 1885).N. Senn.Chicago, 1906.ContentsPREFACETAHITI THE ISLAND PARADISETHE ISLAND OF TAHITIOCEAN VOYAGETHE ATOLL ISLANDSTHE LANDING AT PAPEETETHE CITY OF PAPEETETOPOGRAPHY OF THE ISLANDTHE CLIMATEHISTORY OF THE ISLANDPOMARE, THE ROYAL FAMILY OF TAHITIMISSIONARY RULEWARS BETWEEN PROTESTANT AND CATHOLIC MISSIONARIESTHE LAST WARTHE NATIVESFOREIGNERS IN TAHITIBUSINESS IN TAHITIOLD TAHITIRELIGION OF THE NATIVESTHE INSIGNIA OF TAHITIAN ROYALTYDISEASES OF TAHITIPRESENT PREVAILING DISEASESTHE KAHUNA OR NATIVE DOCTORPHYSICIANS IN TAHITIHÔPITAL MILITAIRETHE ISLAND OF PLENTYTAHITI'S NATURAL BREAD SUPPLYTHE COCOANUT, THE MEAT OF THE TAHITIANSTHE COCOA-PALMTHE FORESTS OF TAHITINOTED FOREST TREES OF TAHITIVANILLA CULTIVATION IN TAHITITHE RURAL DISTRICTSPOINT VENUSFAUTAHUA VALLEYVILLAGE OF PAPARAIORANA!ADDENDATHE STORY OF ARIITAIMAI OF TAHITILIST OF ILLUSTRATIONSThe Royal FamilyHarbor and Principal Port of PapeeteLighthouse, and Cook Monument at HaapapeKing Pomare VPomare IVView of MooreaTahiti from the Harbor of PapeeteIn the Shadow of the Palm ForestThe S. S. "Mariposa" Leaving the Harbor of PapeeteRoyal Palace (Headquarters of the Governor)Avenue of Purranuia, PapeeteNative Village by the SeaNative Hut close by the SeaPrince HinoiA Tahitian HomeTahitian Bamboo HouseTomb of the Last King of Tahiti, Pomare VTahitian Women in Ancient Native DressTahiti Girls in Native DressA Group of Native GirlsNative Girl in Modern DressTahitian Ladies in Zulu DressNative Musicians and Native DanceTahitian Girl in Native Festive DressAt HomeA Home by the Sea — RaiateaFisherman's HomeNative SettlementGroup of Tahitian ChildrenA Case of Far-Advanced Leprosy Affecting All LimbsA Leper of TahitiMilitary Hospital in PapeeteTahitian Fruit VenderPreparing BreadfruitSapodillaCopra EstablishmentGovernment Wharf — PapeeteCorner in PapeeteA View of Fautahua ValleyAvenue of FautahuaCascade of FautahuaBridge across Fautahua near WaterfallLagoon and Reef on the Ninety-Mile RoadOn the Ninety-Mile RoadFishermen of PapeeteTahitian Canoe with OutriggerTwo Papaya TreesPicking CocoanutsAlligator Pear TreeAncient Masked WarriorsHarborHARBOR AND PRINCIPAL PORT OF PAPEETE (SteamerMariposaleaving the port)
PREFACEThe far-away little island of Tahiti is the gem of the South Pacific Ocean. If any place in this world deserves to be called a paradise, Tahiti can make this claim. This charming spot in the wide expanse of the peaceful ocean has attractions which we look for in vain anywhere else. From a distance, the grandeur of its frowning cliffs rivets the eye, and, in coming nearer, its tropic beauty charms the visitor and imprints upon his memory pictures single and panoramic that neither distance nor time can efface. The scenic beauty of this island is unsurpassed. The calming air, redolent with the perfume of fragrant flowers of exquisite beauty, on the seashore, in the valleys and on the precipitous mountain sides; the luxuriant vegetation; the forest fruit-gardens and the sweet music of the surf remind one of the original habitation of man. The natives, a childlike people, friendly, courteous and hospitable, are the happiest people on earth, free from care and worries which in other less favored parts of the world make life a drudgery.Tahiti is the only place in the world where the people are not obliged to work. The forests furnish bread and fruit and the sea teems with fish. The climate is so mild that the wearing of clothing is rather a matter of choice than of necessity, and the bamboo huts that can be made with little or no expense in half a day with the willing help of the neighbors, meet all the requirements of a home. The stranger will find here throughout the year a climate and surroundings admirably adapted to calm his nervous system and procure repose and sleep.In writing this little book I have made free use of the "Memoirs of Arrii Taimai E., Marama of Eimeo, Terii rere of Tooarai, Terii nui of Tahiti, Tauraatua I Amo" (Paris, 1901). The authoress was the mother of Tati, one of the most influential present chiefs of Tahiti, and, as her several titles show, she was of noble birth. She was an eye-witness of many of the most stirring political events in the history of the island. Only fifty copies of this book were printed and only three remained in possession of her son. He was kind enough to give me one of them, which, after making liberal use of it, I presented to the library of the University of Chicago, through its late lamented president, Dr. W. R. Harper. I also acknowledge my indebtedness to the works of Captain Cook, "A Voyage to the Pacific" (London, 1784), and to the book of Baron Ferd. von Mueller, "Select Extra-tropical Plants" (Melbourne, 1885).N. Senn.Chicago, 1906.ContentsPREFACETAHITI THE ISLAND PARADISETHE ISLAND OF TAHITIOCEAN VOYAGETHE ATOLL ISLANDSTHE LANDING AT PAPEETETHE CITY OF PAPEETETOPOGRAPHY OF THE ISLANDTHE CLIMATEHISTORY OF THE ISLANDPOMARE, THE ROYAL FAMILY OF TAHITIMISSIONARY RULEWARS BETWEEN PROTESTANT AND CATHOLIC MISSIONARIESTHE LAST WARTHE NATIVESFOREIGNERS IN TAHITIBUSINESS IN TAHITIOLD TAHITIRELIGION OF THE NATIVESTHE INSIGNIA OF TAHITIAN ROYALTYDISEASES OF TAHITIPRESENT PREVAILING DISEASESTHE KAHUNA OR NATIVE DOCTORPHYSICIANS IN TAHITIHÔPITAL MILITAIRETHE ISLAND OF PLENTYTAHITI'S NATURAL BREAD SUPPLYTHE COCOANUT, THE MEAT OF THE TAHITIANSTHE COCOA-PALMTHE FORESTS OF TAHITINOTED FOREST TREES OF TAHITIVANILLA CULTIVATION IN TAHITITHE RURAL DISTRICTSPOINT VENUSFAUTAHUA VALLEYVILLAGE OF PAPARAIORANA!ADDENDATHE STORY OF ARIITAIMAI OF TAHITILIST OF ILLUSTRATIONSThe Royal FamilyHarbor and Principal Port of PapeeteLighthouse, and Cook Monument at HaapapeKing Pomare VPomare IVView of MooreaTahiti from the Harbor of PapeeteIn the Shadow of the Palm ForestThe S. S. "Mariposa" Leaving the Harbor of PapeeteRoyal Palace (Headquarters of the Governor)Avenue of Purranuia, PapeeteNative Village by the SeaNative Hut close by the SeaPrince HinoiA Tahitian HomeTahitian Bamboo HouseTomb of the Last King of Tahiti, Pomare VTahitian Women in Ancient Native DressTahiti Girls in Native DressA Group of Native GirlsNative Girl in Modern DressTahitian Ladies in Zulu DressNative Musicians and Native DanceTahitian Girl in Native Festive DressAt HomeA Home by the Sea — RaiateaFisherman's HomeNative SettlementGroup of Tahitian ChildrenA Case of Far-Advanced Leprosy Affecting All LimbsA Leper of TahitiMilitary Hospital in PapeeteTahitian Fruit VenderPreparing BreadfruitSapodillaCopra EstablishmentGovernment Wharf — PapeeteCorner in PapeeteA View of Fautahua ValleyAvenue of FautahuaCascade of FautahuaBridge across Fautahua near WaterfallLagoon and Reef on the Ninety-Mile RoadOn the Ninety-Mile RoadFishermen of PapeeteTahitian Canoe with OutriggerTwo Papaya TreesPicking CocoanutsAlligator Pear TreeAncient Masked WarriorsHarborHARBOR AND PRINCIPAL PORT OF PAPEETE (SteamerMariposaleaving the port)
The far-away little island of Tahiti is the gem of the South Pacific Ocean. If any place in this world deserves to be called a paradise, Tahiti can make this claim. This charming spot in the wide expanse of the peaceful ocean has attractions which we look for in vain anywhere else. From a distance, the grandeur of its frowning cliffs rivets the eye, and, in coming nearer, its tropic beauty charms the visitor and imprints upon his memory pictures single and panoramic that neither distance nor time can efface. The scenic beauty of this island is unsurpassed. The calming air, redolent with the perfume of fragrant flowers of exquisite beauty, on the seashore, in the valleys and on the precipitous mountain sides; the luxuriant vegetation; the forest fruit-gardens and the sweet music of the surf remind one of the original habitation of man. The natives, a childlike people, friendly, courteous and hospitable, are the happiest people on earth, free from care and worries which in other less favored parts of the world make life a drudgery.
Tahiti is the only place in the world where the people are not obliged to work. The forests furnish bread and fruit and the sea teems with fish. The climate is so mild that the wearing of clothing is rather a matter of choice than of necessity, and the bamboo huts that can be made with little or no expense in half a day with the willing help of the neighbors, meet all the requirements of a home. The stranger will find here throughout the year a climate and surroundings admirably adapted to calm his nervous system and procure repose and sleep.
In writing this little book I have made free use of the "Memoirs of Arrii Taimai E., Marama of Eimeo, Terii rere of Tooarai, Terii nui of Tahiti, Tauraatua I Amo" (Paris, 1901). The authoress was the mother of Tati, one of the most influential present chiefs of Tahiti, and, as her several titles show, she was of noble birth. She was an eye-witness of many of the most stirring political events in the history of the island. Only fifty copies of this book were printed and only three remained in possession of her son. He was kind enough to give me one of them, which, after making liberal use of it, I presented to the library of the University of Chicago, through its late lamented president, Dr. W. R. Harper. I also acknowledge my indebtedness to the works of Captain Cook, "A Voyage to the Pacific" (London, 1784), and to the book of Baron Ferd. von Mueller, "Select Extra-tropical Plants" (Melbourne, 1885).
N. Senn.
Chicago, 1906.
ContentsPREFACETAHITI THE ISLAND PARADISETHE ISLAND OF TAHITIOCEAN VOYAGETHE ATOLL ISLANDSTHE LANDING AT PAPEETETHE CITY OF PAPEETETOPOGRAPHY OF THE ISLANDTHE CLIMATEHISTORY OF THE ISLANDPOMARE, THE ROYAL FAMILY OF TAHITIMISSIONARY RULEWARS BETWEEN PROTESTANT AND CATHOLIC MISSIONARIESTHE LAST WARTHE NATIVESFOREIGNERS IN TAHITIBUSINESS IN TAHITIOLD TAHITIRELIGION OF THE NATIVESTHE INSIGNIA OF TAHITIAN ROYALTYDISEASES OF TAHITIPRESENT PREVAILING DISEASESTHE KAHUNA OR NATIVE DOCTORPHYSICIANS IN TAHITIHÔPITAL MILITAIRETHE ISLAND OF PLENTYTAHITI'S NATURAL BREAD SUPPLYTHE COCOANUT, THE MEAT OF THE TAHITIANSTHE COCOA-PALMTHE FORESTS OF TAHITINOTED FOREST TREES OF TAHITIVANILLA CULTIVATION IN TAHITITHE RURAL DISTRICTSPOINT VENUSFAUTAHUA VALLEYVILLAGE OF PAPARAIORANA!ADDENDATHE STORY OF ARIITAIMAI OF TAHITI
Contents
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
HarborHARBOR AND PRINCIPAL PORT OF PAPEETE (SteamerMariposaleaving the port)
HARBOR AND PRINCIPAL PORT OF PAPEETE (SteamerMariposaleaving the port)