The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-03-11
Tahiti, the Golden.
a Land That lures and Holds the
Traveller.

Eleven days sailing over gently swell
tr0pic seas, through balmy weather with
nothing 70 do but form anticipations that
VIII be more than realized. brings the
seeker for health or pleasure to Tahiti
And Tahiti furnishes abundance OF health
for those who seek halmy air-and pleas
ure, too-for Its scenery is exceedingly
beautiful, and Papeete and the other
towns are picturesque and charming
Tahiti and the islands Of the Society
group are under the control OF the
French government, the various districts
being presided over by native chiefs.
whose word Is law and who command
the respect and obedience Of their follow
ing, While the government maintains
law and order In every quarter. at the
same time il wisely permits the native
element to observe and maintain the tra-
ditions and customs Of the past without
limitation. Poverty and heggary are un-
known on these islands
While the business Of the islands. both
local and interisland. is mainly controlled
BY the French, German and English resi-
dents. the largest commercial concern on
the island Is owned and managed by
Americans. who own and operate the only
sugar plantation In Tahiti, general store.
cold storage plant, electric light plant and
vessels employed in the interisland trade.
Romance relgns supreme on TAHITI. The
land teens with legends, and the natives
freely tell them. They tel. too. with
pride, OF the early settlement OF these
Society Islands TO which, before Colum-
bus discovered America, hardy voyagers
traversed the Pacific In search of "A
dwelling place They sailed the seas in
huge mat-sailed canoes. and. with no in
strumcnts to guide them, found a haven
Of refuge so beautiful, so restfui, that
they made IT their home 1t was in this
manner that Olapana, the great chief OF
Hawaii. driven from home by disastrous
floods. arrived al Tahiti with his wife,
Lu ukia, in the twelfth century. And
others. as adventurous, came, peopling
islands tlQran
ernments and establishing homes.
Every mountain crag In Tahiti, every
smiling valley, every winding stream and
coral cove and promontory has its tra-
dition. They are all hallowed by tales Of
genii and spirits. associated with the
deods Of gods and heroes who fought
battles there. The people of to-day are
having their traditions and historical
tales crowded out by modern influences.
but much has been permanently record
ed.
Papette, the principal town Of Tahiti,
is beautifully situated and. has a mixed
population Of four thousand, about one
fourth OF whom are Europeans. The
town is full Of pretty homes, and hospi-
tality is one OF the main characteristics
Of the inhabitants. Both Europeans and
natives have a hearty welcome for the
properly accredited visitor, who will find
plenty TO amuse. instruct and delight
him. Rides over the island, through its
matcniess mountain scenery and tropical
forests, disclose unnumbered delights.
Native ways still prevail; and Of all the
South Sea Islanders none are more in
telligent or handsomer tina nthe Tahf-
tians. Their superiority is manifested by
the readiness with which they have
adopted the ways of civilization. Their
fconquerors, the French, have made them
into producing cOmnanity. They till
the soil and ere industrious in the culti-
Walton and drying of the vanilla bean. in
the preparation OF copra from the cocoa
nNt. and, to small but increasing ex
tent. in growing sugar cane.
The native houses in the outlying prov.
inces are built Of upright sticks of ham
boo, lashed side by side to a frame VI
stripped poles IN the shape of an oval.
Upon this is heavy matched roof, COW
erlng cool and airy home. The air cir
eulates freely between the cracks and
between the doors at the opposite sides
of the house There are no windows
Food is cooked near by the house. under
shed OF thatch. Fruits are the staple
foods, but on feast days roast sucking
pig and chicken are added to the hill OF
rare.
One does not have to slave to live well
In Tahiti. Nature is prCdigal there. The
products Of the island such ais cocoa
nuts. oranges. bananas. mangoes pine
apples. breadfruit etc, are to be had
in great abundance in season And to
eat these fruits fresh from the trees
Ito slash the rOugn rind from the pine
apple and devour its melting pulp. to
eat bananas that have matured on the
trees-is something that will make one
forego Tor long time the musty fruit
of commerce. plncked green and senY on
voyage of 3,t00 miles TO an American
market And one who has cut open the
end Of green cOcoanut. and eaten. right
from the shell, the rich. creamy con
tents. will always look upon the ordi-
nary cOcoanut Of the home market as
fraud. Such experiences. mixed with
tours to points OF interest, boating. bath
ing. mountain climbing. explorations in
search of the primitive hfe that still
exists on this island. make almost any
stay there seem too short. Few people
are willing to go home on the return
voyage of the steamer that brought them
there. bus insist on waiting for the next
boat; and when that comes only the call
of the busy world will tear them away
The town Of Papeete affords excellent
accommodations ait from ST. so to AZ a
day (American money!. It's hotels are
well built and modern. and the town H.
self-lazy. tropical. with its quaint mar
ket place where natives cougregate at
daybreak. with its men and women
fower-deckcd. on the shady highway--
holds visitors entranced by its charm
But tour inland taking from four "a
six days. should not he missed The lofty
mountains and waterfalls, the luxuriant
vegetation. the perpetual air OF softest
balmiest spring, form lure that none
can resist. and cause dreams that never
cease of care-free life on tropical
beach, with ones sustenance growing
riotously on all sides.
We work too hard: we make ourselves
victims Of dyspepsia. nervous nrostration.
brain-fag; but Tahiti. the golden. con-
tanning the cure for all these ills is only
eleven days from San Francisco.-Argo-
naut