, 1889-06-06
EambIings in .he south Sea Islands.

EambIinGs in The South Sea Islands.
Having beel granted few months
holiday, l thought l would take trip,
, but where did not kGow. was = {!
The old route across the continent. and
| down to Frisco was played out. In fact,
l did not know what to do, when, happy
thought, why Lot visit the far-famed
South sea Islands? There's row on
at Samoa, ditto at Riatea, and pretty
| girls at TahIta. No sooner thought OF
than done. Packed my baggage,
| (dickey and t0othpick) went to Frisco
and there took my ticket for Tahita, per
Messfs Turner & Chapman's brig, Ia
| hiti," Capt. Turner, who by the way, Is a
most joviaI fellow, and after trip OF
| thirty two days hove in sight OF Tahlta
| Queen of the Pacific, TO quote the words
of Lady Brassy of Sunbeam" fame
Aud [ must really give that popular
authore5s great praise for her excellent
taste. a fairer sight was never seen.
The island consists of two large conical
peaks sloping gradually TO the sea.
These two peaks are connected by mar
row isthmus named Taravau, which is
about three miles acrossi ose peak or
mountain IS 5000 feet, the other 744O,
the sides are covered with rugged vege-
tatiop, and presents a curious aspect
from the sea. As we gradually ap-
proacEed the shore i;s beauty mani
tested itself more and more; first the
long cocoarut palms with their long
wavy leaves and sleuder tops bending
to the breeze, then the more stunted
banana trees frirging the naturally
picturesque shore, then the huts OF the
natives built here and there. canoes in
profusion, the water inside of the readed
reef placid as a mill pond, the surf
breaking and roaring outside, completed
a picture that well repaid for my long
trip. On nearing the passage in the
reef the local tug Eva" took charge Of
US, and by dat OF hard s.eamiug man
aged to keep up speed enough to pre-
vent US from running over her.
At last, once more terra firma, that
good earth We meyer knew the value OF
till We are bobbing up and down on the
briDy ocean, aud imploring the steward
to lend US a tank. l had good look
round, then put the aforesaid luggage
on the car, mean the wheeibarroW, and
trudged cbeerily up the streets of the
capital in search of rOost. l found
one, only one, the Hotel de France,
very clean aud pleasantly situated
hoHse. After partakinG Of small, very
small lunch. for WHICH l was charged a
dollar, l sailed forth TO view the sights
of the town. Papeete, as town, is the
worst laid out l ever was in, as village
it is delightful, the streets are lined on
either side with mango trees, fruit the
Inhabitants and visitors largely consume.
Along the roads at different intervals
are street fronts OF French design; the
water is simply splendid, very cpoi and
clear, it is brought from far up on the
mou ntaip. The inhabitants are very
mixed, they are OF Gll natIonalities.
Americans predominating. [ believe you
could find any nationality under the sun
in this small island. Chinese BY the
score.
The town is formed crescent shape,
the business places running along the
shore. The reef Is about mile from
the shore and prevents the city front
from being weathery. Fhe water is al
ways smooth on tue inside. There are
two passes to come in, Papeete passage
and Tanoa; the former is mostly used,
but the latter is the most safe At one
French arsenal, at the other a fort. The
French have stationed there 800 regu-
lars. $50 gen d'armes, and five men of
war, of which the Duquense, 5000 tons,
vessel 10 questioe was dock,l about
eighteen months ago at Frisco. At
present the war ships are mostly away
at Riatea quelling disturbances.
1hO bOMb
ruled by select set of merchants, who
reign supreme. The price of goods is
enormous, few OF which l quote TO
show our citizeps whatever else they
have to growl about, they are well off in
the matter OF food.
Flour, 30 h., 50 30; butter, 90c; cheese.
S1.50; candles. 10c apieces lumber, so
per thousand; meals, 81; milk, 10c.
per pint, etc. 1 could go on, quot
ing all night. On the other band, fruit
is yerv cheap. and very sbtainable.
One of the first things that strike .as
stranger on landing is the way the na
tives are civilized. No blankets and
hoedcoverings about them, no sir; on
Sunday in the morning you will notice
them walking or driving around the
town dressed to kill, dead on the mash.
A clean boiled shirt, stand up collar,
white, or blue pants, aud a nice straw
hat on, the making OF which the natives
OF Tabita stand anrivaled. There
are two items that are peculiar, they
wear their shirts outside of their pauts
an won't wear boots, not il they can
help it. will continue this article a,
later date. PELICAN.
An eastern youth called it cowardly
because his prospective father-in-law
kicked him when his back was turned.
A young bank clerk in town says he
knows all about it. He calls it stern
rebuke.
1t was not the Ginger tract, but the
Briggs tract, that Messrs. Jarvis and
Frier bought for $4,000. The same land
was offered to the NJ. E. conference a
few years ago for university site, at an
| appraised valuation of $il ,250.
The question OF issuing city bonds for
putting in an extensive system of water
works will probably be agitated pretty