The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-03-03
Capt. Chapman Of Tahiti Once
More a Visitor.
NATIVES Of HIS COUNTRY
Government of the French-it Is
Quite PaternaI - Improve
ments in Tahiti.

Capt. Chapman. OF Tahid. who Is
visiting in Honolulu ut present, is one
OF the old pioneers OF the Pacific. I
There are few islands OF the South Seas
that the captain hasn't touched at with
his good ship.
When the first news OF the fabulous
wealth OF California reached New
York Capt. Chapman Joined the mad
rush for the Golden Fleece. With a
few comrades in little sailing vessel
he rounded the Horn and went sailing
through the Golden Gate. For n few
months they ran back and forth along
the Sacramento river. But a severe
winter set in and he and his comrades
set sail for the Sandwich Islands.
which they heard so much about.
Il tell you" said the Captain yester-
day to an Advertiser reporter. lit did
my heart good as we came near these
Islands and saw the green. grassy
slopes and the cool shade trees. Il was
altogether different from the climate
we had just escaped.
we touched at Lahaina first and
then came to- Honolulu. There was a
great deal more grass here then than
there is now and not so many trees.
We landed just about where the Gus
tom house is now.
soon after went TO Tahiti and en-
gagged in the trading business. My. but
that's n lovely island. Talk about
your Paradises, II there Is anything
nearer Paradise on this earth than Ia
hiti IS. want to see K.
The island is under French control
and l want TO say that II is governed
well. 4 Governor General Is sent out
from France, together with two other
officials and they have full power.
Taxes are low. and every man pays the
same. And the Government protects
the natives in every way. Why. ma
tive can't sell his land until the Gov
eminent has had thirty days notice.
Then. If the Government doesn't think
that he is getting enough for IL. they
won't allow him to- sell. That prevents
the natives getting swindled.
THE natives there are somewhat
similar to what they are here. But
there has not been so much intermarry-
ing and consequently the Tahitians are
more like the natives years ago than
you find here. They are very kind and
not at all resentful.
THE European manner OF dress IS
gradually spreading. In the towns the
natives put on their suits OF clothes.
with collar and choker when there Is
something going on. like church. The
next day off go the collars and coats.
and the undershirt and robe OF soft
stuff. gathered round the lower part
of the body, appear.
| Improvements are coming slowly.
We have fine churches and schools.
both OF which are fostered by the Gov
| eminent. Some years ago n young
Frenchman attempted to put in an
electric plant. but he couldn't get
enough power, so he failed. We get
mail now monthly by means OF sailing
vessels. \ steamer from Auckland
also touches there periodically. There
Twas some talk OF new steamship line
but il didn't amount to much. I hard
lly think II would pay.
The principal products OF the
island are copra and mother OF pearl
The mother OF pearl OF Tahiti Is th'
finest of the world. Great quantitie.
are shipped away annually.
Yes" said the captain in respons,
to a question. Il remember the "'Tetau
tua" episode. There was a native crew
n charge OF young FrenChman names
Refs. who were bound foi one of tn,
Smelling depots with that vessel. Some
how they lost their bearings and drift
ed for a long time. Finally the.
brought up on Hawaii. which was tn
first land they had sighted since leav
ing Tahiti.
/. When they arrived back home the
all spoke in the highest terms OF tn
way they had been treated. They men
. toned especially the British Consu
who had taken charge OF them. Cool
the man who took them back. after
ward shipped with a German bark an
. went back home.
Yes, l have met a number OF T.
hitians here. never knew there wei
so many before. They are scattered y
over. l have brother-in-law Q
Kauai.
Il like Honolulu very much m
lately have made trip here eyel
- year. Then about every five years
take a run over To the United Stat
and back to my old home. But the
is no place like Tahiti-the vsritah
seaman's paradise.r
Capt. Chapman intends TO stay he
- about six weeks before going fu-thl
His niece, who Is n Brooklyn youi
lady. is travelling with him. The ca
tain is a hale, hearty fellow. a true -
. OF the briny. He says he is getting 81
but YOU would never know q.
PoIiSe Court