Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-26


SS among closed housel
without even lodging
bill In q window to prove some tenantcy in
the back quarters, and when we visited the
Government bungalow, that Mr.. Donat
acting Vice Resident, greeted as alone and
entertained us with cocosnut punches in the
Sessions Hall and seat Of judgment Of that
widespread archipelago, our glasses stand
ing arrayed with summonses and censuI
returns,
The uupopularity Of late Vice Resident
had begun the movement of exodus, hil
native employees demitting court appoint
ments and retiring each to his own cocos
patch in the eccentric districts of the isle.
Upon the back Of that, the Governor in
Papeere issued decreei All land in the
Paumotus must be defined and registered,
or, at least, reclamation entered, by GER
tain date.
Don't Stick to q Single Atons
New, She folk Of the archipelago are hall
pomsdic; man can scarce be said to belong
to particular stoll-he belongs to several,
perhaps holds stake and counts cousinsh in
In half score; and the inhabitants of Ro-
tosvs in particular, man, woman and child,
and from the gendsrma to the Mermen
prophet and the schoolmaster, owned-I was
going to say lsnd-oWned at least coral
blocks and growing COCOA palms in some ad-
jacent isle. Thither-from the gendarme to
the babe In arms, the pastor followed by his
fock, the schoolmaster carrying along with
him his scholars, and the scholars with
h.s- ~ Ill, Id Il IL
some two days previous to our arrival, and
were all now engaged disputing boundaries.
Fancy overhears the shrillness of their
diBputation mingle with the surf and scatter
sea fowl Il was admirable to observe the
completeness of their fight, like that of
Alternating birds; nothing LEFT but empty
houses, like old nests to be reoccupied in
spring; and even the harmless necessary
dominic borne with them in their transmit
grafton. Fifty odd set out and only seven,
I was informed, remained. But when
made feast on board the Casco, more than
seven, and nearer seven times seven, ap-
peared TO be my guests Whence they ap-
peared, how they were summoned whittier
they vanished when the feast was eaten, i
have no guess. dn view of low island tales,
and that awful Reorganization which makes
men avoid the seward beaches of an atoll,
some tEo-scOre of those that ate with us may
have returned, for the occasion, from the
kingdom of the dead.
Concluded to Live in the Town.
1t was this solitude that put Il in our
minds to hire house and become, for the
time being, indwellers of the isle-a prac-
tice have ever since, when it was possible,
adhered to. Mr.. Donat placed MS, with
that intent, under the convoy Of one Taniera
Mahinui, who cumulated the incongruous
characters of catechist and convict. The
reader may smile, but affirm he was well
qualified for either part. For that OF con-
vlct, first Of all, bv good substantial iel-
ony, such as in all lands casts the perpetra-
tor in chains and dungeons. Taniera was a
man of birth-the chic! awhile ago, as he
loved to tell, of ''sicri" or district In
Anaa OF 800 souls. Hence the trou BILE
Eprang; for in an evil hour it occurred to
the authorities in Papeete to charge the
chief with the collection of the taxes. 1t is
a question if much were collected; it is cer-
tain that nothing was handed on; and Tan
iera, who had distinguished himself by
visit TO Papeete and some high living in
restaurants, was chosen for the scapegoat,
The reader must understand that not Tan
iers, but the authorities In Papeete were the
FIRST In fault The charge imposed was dis
proportioned. l have not yet heard of any
Polynesian capable of such burden; hon
est and upright Hawaiians-one in particu-
lar, who was admired even by the whites as
an inteIible msgistrate-have stumbled in
the narrow path of the trustee. And Tan
iera, when the pinch came, scorned to de-
nOunce accomplices; others had shared the
spoil, he bore the penalty alone. He was
condemned in five years.
Very Happy to Be a Convict
The period, when had the pleasure of
his friendship, was not yet EXPIRED; he still
drew his prison rations, the sole and not un-
welcome reminder Of his chains, and, be-
Geve, looked forward to the date of his en-
frsnchisement with mere alarm. For he
had no sense of shame in the position; COM
planned of nothing but the defective table
of his place of exile; regretted nothing but
the fowls and eggs and fish of his own more
favored island. And as for his parIshion-
ers they did not think one hair the less of
him. A school boy, mulcted in IL, 900 lines
OF Greek, and dwelling sequestered in the
dormitories, enjoys unabated consideration
from his fellows. So with Taniera-s
marked man, not q dishonored; having
fallen under the lash OF the unthinkable
gods; Job, perhaps, or say Taniera in a
den Of lions. Songs are likely made and
sung about this sanity Robin Hood.
On the other hand, he was highly ousli-
ned for his Office in the church, being by ma
ture grave, considerste and kindly man;
has face rugged and serious, his smile bright;
the master of several trades, builder both
Of boats and houses; endowed with fue
pulpit voice. endowed besides with such q
gift OF eloquence that at the grave of the
late Chief OF Fakarava be set all the assist
ants weeping 1 never met man OF a mind
more ecclesisstical; he loved to dispute and
to inform himself Of doctrine and the history
OF sects, and when showed him the cuts In
8 volume OF Chambers Cyclopedia-except
Tor one OF an ape-he reserved his whole en-
thusiasm for cardinals hats, censers. candle
sticks and cathedrals. Methought when he
looked upon the cardinals hat voice SAID
low in his ear: Your foot is on the lad
der"
The Best the Town Afforded.
Under the guidance of Taniera we we're
soon installed in what believe to have been
the best appointed private house Ia Faka-
rsVL 1t was of one story, verandaed in