Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-10-09
"TRIP TO THE Orient
Clarence e. Edwords Touring the
Eastern Countries. 4i5@
HE IS OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.
INTERESTINGLY WRITTEN IN WEEK
LY LETTERS, WHICH WILL AP.
PEAR IN THE RECORDER.

81. u ~
Papetee, Tahiti, July l4-Thert
is something theatrical in the way
a steamer approaches port, anc
never has theatrical effect had such
gorgeous setting as had our arrival
at Tahiti. We reached sighting
distance of the island long before
daybreak, but it would never do to
run in while it was yet dark, so the
great steamer moved slowly through
what seemed to be sea of liquid
silver toward the looming blackness
which we knew to be the goal OF
our desires. The twinkling light oil
Point Venus gave the captain his
bearings, and as we steamed
slowly along, the rosy appearance
of the eastern sky warned us OF APP
preaching dawn. Daylight comes
quickly in the tropics, and sudden
ly there burst into full view the
island we had come so far to see.
1t was a wondrous sight, indeed,
and we felt we'll repaid for travel
three thousand, six hundred miles
across the water, even if we saw
nothing more than this wonderful
approach to the island.
AS the light grew stronger, all
the beautiful outline Of the island
came into prominence, and then
beautiful Moorea, standing guard
off the west, showed its Jagged
peaks and crest against the moon
lit western sky. The two islands
seemed fitting companions in this
mystic sea, both appearing to be q
developed from sone ancient con-
tinent of Pan stood where there is
nothing but the scattered groups
of the islands of this archipelago,
and one can we'll believe that this
legend is based on fact, for this
land seems old, and wears an air
of mysticism that reminds one OF
ancient Egypt or of the interior OF
Yucatan. There was something
uncanny in our approach in the
early dawn. The steamer moved
along with no sound from her en-
gines, and the shore gradually grew
palmer until the waving palms and
cocoanut trees could be distinguish
ed. and then few houses showed
among the green.
Maripesa day is the event of the
month at Papetee, for the steamer
makes its periodical visits at such
intervals, and it is only on such
periods that the people come in
toucb with outer world civilization
One other steamer comes occasion
ally, but it comes from New Eng,
land, and carriers little Of import
ance to the islanders, 80 it is that
when the Maripesa arrives that
every one is out in gala attire
ready for the only excitement that
comes into their lives. Everybody
seemed to be at the wharf to greet
us, and as the pilot came aboard
to take US safely through the reef
and we swung around to enter into
the narrow channel which carrie.
the vessel into the harbor, we coult
see streams of white dressed people
flocking down every street, ant
along the city's front to the moor
ing place, and before the steame
LAY alongside the wharf the plac
was covered with flower bedecke'
people waiting to give us a heart.
welcome. 1t was a brilliant assem-
blage so far as color was concerned
and the white clothing contraste'
beautifully against the green of tn
ever living foliage Of all the strang
trees and plants of the island
while interspersed among the tow
people were dozens Of natives
fresh from the interior of the island
dressed much as Nature dresses
them with the exception of brigh
hued loin cloths, or parous, as the,
are called. These cloths are OF tn
gaudiest colored calicoes produce
by the looms of. France, and one
disposed to wonder why all thos
who live in Tahiti do not discar
the conventional white clothinI
MARRIED MAN In TROUBLE.