The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-01-07
TAHITI AN
 ISLAND. PARADISE Is Owned by France and Lies
 in South Pacific LIFE ONE LONG VACATION Nothing to Do But Pluck Rreadfrult and Indulge In Love and Merry.
 makng-Nature Is
 Bountiful.
LIFE ONE LONG VACATION
From the New York World.

From the New York World.
 President Roosevelt denies that tbs United States has offered France s40oo.- 900 for Tahiti, it's little island possession in the South Pacific, and at the French Consulate in this city yesterday 1t was not believed that France would sell it, anyway.
 Tahiti is depicted as an earthly para disc. The area of the island is about half that of our Long Island The pop- ulation is 12.00O
 France spends 100000 francs (about $4OO,ooo) on Tahiti. and the situation is not bad, because the island yields in taxes more than double that.
 Conditions and trade are not as good as they ought to be. an official report says. because the natives. bountifully provided for by nature, are indoent. , It is sixty-five years since France es- tablished protectorate over Tahiti but it was not until 1880 that the late King Pomare surrendered what was left of his royal rights for s12,OOO.
 The climate is even all the year, vege- tation is luxurant. the women are beau- tiful, the nights are filled with perfume and mystical light. In the reef-bound transparent water swim myraids of beau- tifnlly shelled fish over a garden of coral blossoming like roses. These llmpid depths are within frame of long stretches of beach, bordered by cocanut trees. palms and ever -blossoming bushes, cheerful cottages beneath breadfruit trees and tall mountain peaks. Brawny men dart hither and thither in fruit-laden canoes, and groups of dark-eyed girls, with sun-browned, transparent complex ions, with cocanut- t-oiled glossy hair hang ing to their waists clad only in Mother Hubbards and crowns of garlands, stroll idly.
 Freak of Calendar.
 Tahiti is ono of the few places on earth where money is not necessity. The only payment Tahitlan expects or desires for his hospitality is "Maru- ru," I thank you, kiss for wife and daughter and a pat for his dog The Tahitian girl owns her little home, garlanded with perpetually blooming roses and shaded by a profusion of breadfruit trees and taro plants. She has her own tiny plantation and the privilege of do- ing as she likes, for Tahitans do not work their women as beasts of burden. The evening passes in melody drink and loye-making. The curfew at 10 o'clock recalls the merry-makers to their thatch-
  struments, but their voices blend like the notes of an immense organ when they sing the songs that have come down to them through many generations.
 The American on visit is invited to don Tahitian costume, consisting of sugar cane hat, white shirt and pareu- u piece of colored print, four feet square, which is folded around the waist. The Tahitan cooks his sucking pigs, chickens (with head and claws), or bread fruit and taro plant on hot stones. Fish Is eaten raw, with cocoanuit and lime sauce The drink is the milk of the cocoa nut favored with a dash of Tahiti rum.
 How TahitIans Dine.
 As the family squat on the ground to partake of this fare the head of the family always asks blessing. A black eyed girl crowns each one present with garland of red and yellow flowers.
 A favorite recreation is swimming In the night in a natural swimming pool.
 In Tahiti fingers an ancient custom of walking with bare feet over white-hot stones Only the descendants of the an- cient priests, who have been instructed by their fathers and are able to utter commands to the stones, can do this un- harmed.
 There are eleven islands in this Ia hitan archipelago or Society group. Most or the 1SlAnuS arOunu ldHlll are ullueF French protection. Tahiti is 26O0 miles south of Hawaii s4O0 miles from San Francisco, and about the same distance from Sydney, Australia. Some of the lit tie isles rise coco or 5000 feet above the water, but all wear fertile girdle. Tahiti. 12O miles In circumference. rises in the centre to $500 feet, It lies in latitude 1729 south and longitude 1929 west In a nearly direct line between Panama and Australia. If was discovered by Quiros in 16D0