Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-10-16
TRIP TO THE Orient
Clarence e. EdwOrdS Touring the
Eastern Countries.
HE IS OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.
INTERESTINGLY WRITTEN IN WEEK
LY LETTERS, WHICH WILL AP.
PEAR IN The RECORDER.

PEAR IN i HE HECOhDER.
Papeete, Tahiti, July 16:-Medi-
cal inspection rarely detains pas
sengers who visit Tahiti for it would
be a terrible blow to the industry
of the country if the tourists who
come on the Mariposa were prevent
ed from landing. About the best
crop that is raised in Tahiti is the
tourist crop, and consequently the
doctor gave us practique so quickly
that hardly anybody knew he had
been aboard. Then came the ordeal
of passing our goods through the
customs house. had visions of
experiences that had been my lot
on other trips to foreign lands and
wondered whether one OF my three
cameras would not be confiscated
by the lynx-eyed officials of France.
Some of the passengers feared all
sorts of horrid things happening to
their wearing appeared, but expert
ence has evidently taught the Ia
hiti customs officials that passen-
gers on the Mariposa rarely, if ever,
have anything of value, and the
entire ceremony at the custom
house consisted in my pointing out
my baggage to the official so that
he could pass it to the half naked
native who was ready to carry 1T
to Lovina's. The official did not
even take trouble to put a chalk
mark on it.
The custums barrier safely pass
ed there was now nothing between
us and Lovina's but a shaded
street. / have mentioned Lovina
quite frequently, and possibly my
readers will begin to wonder who
and what Lovina is. Lovina is one
of the most prominent characters
Of Tahiti, and not to know Lovlna
is not TO know Tahiti. You may
20 there and have good time and
never see the governor or the may
or, 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 kind
est, most obliging women that you
can meet in many years travelling.
Breakfast in Tahiti is a function
that occurs at about IL o'clock in
the morning. No matter what
time you may desire to get up and
wonder about the country all you
will be able to get will be little
toast and coffee until the regular
breakfast hour of eleven arrives.
That first breakfast in Papeete ling
ers in my memory yet, and even
the dinner which came ct six O clock
in the evening, with its roast suck
ing pig that had been raised on CO.
coanut milk, fades into insignifi-
canoe beside it. This breakfast, as
are all other meals is served on the
broad porch which is shaded with
vines and hang with clusters OF de-
licious fruits of all kinds, the aroma
of which fills the air for blocks
around. Let it be remembered that
whenever | say anything about
meals there must always be added
oranges, pineapples, bananas and
such other fruits as may be in sea-
son. Fruit doesn't count when
talking about eating in Tahiti, and
on top of this it must be remember
ed that fresh cocoanut milk is al
most q meal of itself, and can have
all he can drink for the asking at
any time and any place.
Immediately after breakfast /
hunted up Tati Salmon and arrang-
ed for team and crrriage to take
our party out to Point Venus. Tat
Salmon, it must be remembered, is
a prince of the royal blood who
keeps a livery stable, and while he
wons acre after acre of valuable
lands, from which he derives a
princely revenue, he also looks after
making few extra dollars out of
the tourists who invade his king
dom. If were to describe the
horses, which compose the team"
I am sure that some of you would