Daily national Democrat., 1861-03-13
a BricfC,i AZ Tah!il.

1t is about 81 miles long. and is in fact a
lengthy range Of highland, with narrowing
in one part Of a breadth Of only 3 miles form
in something Ike two peninsulars. Highly
fertile plains and valleys intersect the mou' :
tain ranges, and there is abundance OF water
coming from natural springs and from the
mountain brooks, which are supplied by The
! frequent mountain rains The highest peak
is $500 #. above sea level. The productions
are tropica, and of great luXuriance. The
climate is warm but the air is exceedingly
pure and exhileratiug Vessels are built on
the Island, for trade to New South Waic-,
carry ing sugar, cocoa-nut oil. and arrow
roet, the principal products of the Island
| bringing in return clothes, hardware calico ,
dc. 1t is a great whaling port The island
was discovered in 1906 by the Spaniards but
was taken possession of by the French in
1916 and they now have Protcctorate ever
il, the native sovereignty being ruled over by
native Queen-the same one, we believe,
who gave Lola Montez so kind reception,
in her bamboo palace a few years ago.
An acquaintance of ours has recently re-
turned from visit to Tahiti and acquaiuts
Us with few facts which may not prove un-
interesting.
lie arrived there in 1858, in ha,k char
tered by Capt. J. Clinch, Of this city, and re-
manned forsome time. lie says the island, Il.
seen from the sea, is the most enchanting yi--
ion his eyes ever tcheld-a Paradise in the
midst of the waters, blooming and fragrant
Nor is the beauty of the vision dis-ipatcd
when YOU land 1t is beautiful, lie says, be-
yond his powers of description, and We arc
not at liberty, Of course to describe it fol
him But he tells US % imagine a land where
all is life and elasticity, plenty without labor
peace perennial, and that is Tahiti
The population is about 5000. According
10 his recollection, there are not more thar
two hundred whites on the Island, (as resi-
dents) say 10 Americans, 90 Enalishmen, and
| $50 Frcnchmen. There is q Scolchman there
named Brander who has "A hail-breed Tahi-
tian wife, who is very good looking, and two
or three children. He lives in good style,
although his wife dresses like the other ma
lives. He owns several schooncrs and barks,
and his business is trading in shells, cocoa
nut oil DC. lie has "a large brick retail store
where lac sells calicoes ct cetera, TO the ma
tiyes, and groceries, &c. to the visitors, villa
81. lana
stone storrhouse, and trading posts in all the
surrounding islands lie is worth about a
million and half Of dollars Gibson d Tay-
lor are firm at Tahiti who are doing good
business Gibson is an Englishman aud has
a native wife Taylor is an American and
has none. Hort Is an English jew, who was
at one time second to Brendcr in wealth, but
met with losses and is not now so well off
He had some bad luck with his vessels; also
went TO Sidney, leaving some one TO take
charge Of his affairs who swindlcd him out Of
$4,000. George Hall, fIniiarly known as
Old Pusscy or Fat George, is an American,
vino keeps tip-top Hotel, with n har-room,
billiard saloon and ten pin alley attachcd.-
lie is a great favorite with the whalcr5, cal-
tains and strangers, In short, he is Jolly
old boy. Jerry Lamphier is an American
resident, with a hall-breed wife, and is well
known for his readiness in giving informlton
to strangers and otherwise assisting them
Another prominent American is ). 5. Foster,
who owns a lumber yard and grocery store
The natives, however, are the chief objects
of interest. Our friend describes them as an
exceedingly happy, kind and hospitable poo-
pie Both men and women are large and
finely formed. The latter have figures of the
most perfect beauty, while their faces are
passably good looking. Their eyes are black
and saucy, their hair Of a rich and glossy
blackness and very luxuriant They are
very cleanly in their habits, and express
great disgust for any stranger who is filthy
in his dress or person. The dress for both
men and women is usually piece Of figured
cloth or calico wound around the loins, and
sometimes similar covering is thrown over
the shoulders Their houses are made Of
bamboo and circular in form, well thatch,d
with leaves These leafy roofs will last 7 or
s years, and are far preferable in that eli
mate to shingles, because the sun will neither
nor wilt Them The leaves are
from to s feet long and quite plant The
carpets for these houses are made of grass We
ven and are kept very clean, no inmate ever
entering from distance without first wash
ing his or her feet for they mostly all go
barefoot
1t is IL saying with these people that when
their meal is cooked, their work is done. To
great extent, they say truly, for it is but
little they have to do, where everything that
they need to sustain or comfort life is at
hand, aad where to provide food is recrea-
ton more than toll The brcad-fruit and
the fish, both abundant to an extraordinary
degree, would provide them amply were
there no other resource, but the island
abounds in wild fowl, which are of the same
species as the domesticated, their progenitors
having been originally imported from Eng
land, France aud other countries. There are
also wild hogs, of an imported breed. Thus
the principal diet of the natives is bread fruit
made into bread, and fish and pork Their
manner Of cooking is this: They make a
round hole in the ground build fire over it
and cover that with small stones; after the
stones are well heated, they lay them ont in