The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-02-12
lAHITl'S QUEEN.
Throws off Her Incog and Talks to q
Press F'iend
A Remarkably Good Looking Woman
Who Plays the Violin and
smokes Cigarettes
About Tahiti

New YORK, Feb. l3-Quesn Pomare Y.
of Tahiti, who has been stopping at the Hotel
de Panama for several DAYS under the as
sumed name Of Madame Soic,aon, finding it
impossible to preserve her incognto, decided
to acknowledge her identity. She was urged
to this decision by NJ. CASTOR Paris, of the
French consulate Through his kind offices
she consented to an interview with a press
correspondent in order that she might
correct the false impressions which
have been spread abroad regarding her
When the correspondent accompanied by NJ.
Paris, entered the apartment occupied by her
Tahitin majesty he found her playing vio-
lin. She threw the instrument carelessly
aside and gracefully acknowledged the intro
duction. NJ. Murgier was present, and fire.
quently Joined in the conversation. He could
not talk English, but understood it fairly
well, while the queen spoke the Ian
guage with a fuency which was aston
ishing. There was a touch Of French vivacity
in her manner, varied by an occasional
approach to hateur, but she was at alltimes
polite, affable and refined. In personal ap-
pearance Queen Pomare might be taken for
an Italian countess. Her features are large
and expressive, While not handsome
woman, she is exceedingly good looking. Her
eyes are intensely black, and occasionally
CLEAN with a light which gives the observer
an impression that she would not be a pleas
ant person to anger Her dress was loose
robe of purple silk. She wore very large
earrings Of yellow gold, in which sparkled
precious stones. At her throat was mig
nificent native pearl, oval in shape and par
TALLY black, almost as large as robins egg.
During the conversation the queen RECALLED
herself withsa cigarette, which she smoked as
a matter of course II have suffered much
since 1 came here" said her majesty in reply
to question regarding her New York so
journ, 9by the constant misrepresen-
tations which have been made re-
garding me, my conversation, and
the purpose of my visit | shrink from
publicity, and l only consent to this inter
view, as you term it, because desire through
the medium Of the press to deny these false
hoods am to leave on Wednesday next by
the st. Laurent for France. ann not going
to France upon diplomatic errand, as has
been asserted | am Oh pleasure tour. /
do not go as the queen Of Tahiti, but sas
private lady who is DESTROYS of extending
her knowledge"
What is the present form of government
in Tahitii'
I'VE have double government in many
respects. There are separate authorities for
some things, and authorities governing both
for others. For instance, there are three
courts in Tahiti. The first is the Tahita
court, in which the judge, jury and people
are all natives. Then there are the supreme
court and lower court for Europeans The
natives sometimes come under the jurisdic-
ton Of the supreme court in import
ant cases, bat the king has the power
of keeping people Of native blood out Of
the supreme court if be SO desires. The PEG
pie are well satisfied with the present form of
government. They are quiet, peaceable, and
strictly honest. In the past fifty years only
three murders have been committed on the
island The chief trouDiA is caused by the
Europeans, especially the Spaniards. who are
apt to make trouble, because Of their hot
blood, wherever they are. There are 10000
natives and l 800 Europeans onthe island We
have no railroads or other Of your modern
inventions. don't know that we need them.
We have three papers published in French
The great source of wealth is, of course, our
shell fisheries. These the natives own sx-
clusiveiy" s
Her majesty has seen many Of the nights d.
the city since her arrival She has walked
across the Brooklyn bridge, has visited the
Museum Of Art and two. theatres. Queen
Pomare, who is IS years Of aga is the wife
of King Potnare V of Tahiti, and has two
children Her visit to Frencs s5of uncertain
duration.