Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-11-18
Island OF Z ahiti
Great Place for Eating, Noise and Pleasure

inspection rarely detafns passengers
who visit Tahiti for it would be a
terrible blow to the industry of the
country if the tourists who come on
1.-THE Mariposa were prevented from
landing. About the best crop that is
raised in Tahiti is the tourist crop and
consequently the doctor gave us prac-
tique so quickly that hardly anybody
knew he had been aboard Then came
the. ordeal Of our passing our goods
through the customs house. I had Wis.
ions of experiences that had been my
lot on other trips to foreign lands and
wondered whether one Of my three
cameras would not be confseated by
the lynx-eyed officials of France.
Some of the passengers feared all
sorts of horrid things happening to
their wearing apparel, but experience
has evidently taught the Tahiti GUS
toms house officials that passengers
On the Mariposa rarely IT. ever, have
anything of value, and the entire GER
emory at the custom house consisted
in my pointing out my baggage to
the official SO that he. could pass it to
the half naked savage who was ready
to carry it to Lovina's. The official
did not even take trouble to put a
chalk mark on 1t. r.
The customs barrier safely passed
there was now nothing between us
and Lovina's but a shaded street. I
have mentioned Lovina quite fire.
quently, and possibly my readers will
begin to wonder who and what Lovina
is. Lovina is one Of the most promi.
nept characters of Tahiti, and not to
know Lovina is not to know Tahiti
You may go there and have a good
time and never see the governor or
the mayor, but it would be impossible
if you did not get acquainted with
Lovina. She keeps the chief hotel
at Papeete, and is one Of the kindest,
most obliging women that one can
meet in many years travelling.
Breakfast in Tahiti is function
that occurs at about IL o'clock in the
morning. No matter what time you
may desire to get up and wander
about the country all you viii be able
to get will be little toast and coffee
until the regular breakfast hour of
eleven arrives That first breakfast ir
Papeete fingers in my memory yet,
and even the dinner which came at
six o'clork in the evening, with it's
roast sucking pig that had been raised
on cocoanut milk, fades into, insight
ficance beside it. This breakfast, as
are all other meals, is served on a
broad porch which is shaded with,
vines and hung with clusters of delic-
ious fruits of all kinds, the aroma of;
which fills the air for blocks around.
Let it be remembered that whenever
I say anything about meals there.
must always be added oranges, pine.
apples and such other fruits as may.
be in season. Fruit doesn't count
when talking about eating in Tahiti
and on top of this it must be remem-s
bered that fresh cocoanut milk is al
most a meal itself, and one can have
all he can drink for the asking at any
time and any place.
Immediately after breakfast hunt .
ed up Tati Salmon and arranged for
a team and carriage to take our par
ty out to Point Venus. Tati Salmon,
it must be remembered, is prince Of
the royal blood who keeps livery
stable, and while he owns acre after
acre OF valuable lands, from which he
derives princely revenue he also looks
after making a few extra dollars out
of the tourists who invade his king
dom. II ! were to describe the horses
which compose the team am sure
that some of you would take steps to
have me brought before the society
for prevention of cruelty to animals
for censure.
We went to Point Venus and saw
where Captain Cook noted the Tran.
sit Of Venus near hundred years
ago, and then rode back to town,
passing dozens of natives hurrying Iii,
to take part In the festival. Each
band Of natives was trundling along
with its special band, making music
all the way These bands would do
for traVesties for some OF. our TESTIFY
ais. One Of them which made the
best music consisted OF man playing
q bass drum, another beating On Il
piece Of bamboo, and two others
pounding on old tin pans, while the 4
fifth was blowing into an empty, beer
bottle This T,oY1siy, ascoy,, nor; 7. -,