Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-01-06
RAIATEA IS BEAUTIFUL.
SOUTH SEA ISLAND PRESENTS
SCENE OF ENDLESS
BEAUTY.
Our Correspondent is Charmed With
the Beautiful Scenery, Balmy
Climate and Cleanliness Of
the Island.

Climate and Cleanliness of
the Island.
| Raiatea, Dec. 16:-It was early in
the morning when the cloud-capped,
jagged peaks and ribbed slopes of
the beautiful island hove in sight
The highest peak reaches 1889 feet
into the air, and it is clothed with
the greenest of verdure clear to the
top. A belt of coconut trees fringes
the beach, and islets covered with
palms, mangOes and odd-lOoking
shea oaks are scattered about. AS we
approach the island great clouds of
spray break over the it
seems as if there was for
the ship, but the vessel threads her
way through the reef and makes her
way up the wharf. 1t is a tableau
for poets dream. Crested wavelets,
white as snow, cover the water, con-
trasting with the intense blue of the
ocean, the brown of the coral in the
depths below and the deep green of
the shallow region near the shore.
The wharf presents scene to be
found only in this part of the world,
Women and girls with flower wrea-
tbs, red skirts and hats of their own
weaving, mix with men dressed inN
gayest pareus, the prominent colors
being blue, red and yellow r0l -
with sprinkling of wnlte. Great
piles of oranges on one side, coconut
baskets on the other, and dozens of
picturesque catamarans drawn up on
the sand of the beach, make picture
of constant delight. 1t is a picture OF
good nature, animation and love Of
life under the tropic sun, and amid
such surroundings of exquisite and
novel beauty as to impel ones soul
to thank God for the Joy Of being in
such a place.
Raiatea is considered sacred by
the natives, and on the hills are the
mummied remains of a numerous
line of kings and queens who depart
ed rn3s world in years gone by. 1t tiss
impossible to do justice to the scene-
ry and environments in ordinaEY
language. One feels that he shou1
have an extra stock of adjectives. II
fact one must go and live and love
and appreciate this place for him
self. No one can tell what it is that !
is of such charm. Pacific island life
is unique, the people are unique, their
songs are unique, and it is only when
one is amongst it that it can be fully
realized.
Here the beach is strewn with
coconut husks, lemon, orange and
banana pealings, and there is gen.
eral air of uncleanliness, but If you
look closely you will find nothing
that approaches filth. Great land
crabs, looking for all the world like
imps of Satan, eye you malvolently
as they back into their holes, holding
their gaint claws out in front of them
as If to ward off danger. These claws
| by the way. make a delicious salad
These creatures are the scavengers Of
the island, they keep everything per-
fectly clean. They are to be found In
myriads, and are seldom molested
owing to the good work they do in
cleaning the streets OF things that
might not be so pleasant to look upon
coooonf NbrCLc
This island is famous for its beau
tiful shells, and all along the reef
one may find them by the thousands,
some being of such exceeding beauty
that the natives hold them as sacred.
These shells are of many colors, and
the small ones are beautiful in shape
as well. The natives string them Iii
long festoons and decorate them
selves with them. They make most
pleasing souvenirs and can be pur-
chased at prices which bring them
within reach of the poorest of trav-
elers.
The language of Raiatea is slight
ly different from that of Tahiti. but
enc can readily see that both are
from the same root. Every where we
go we hear the same soft "Yarana."
as it is pronounced here. In Tahiti
it was 'Iorana," you will remember.
In Rorotomga they say 1t is pronoun-
ced "Eorana." 1t means the same
thing on all the islands, and is q
most cheerful greeting.
would like to dwell on the beau
ties of this island little more, but
l am afraid 1t will be so much like
what I have already written about
Tahiti that 1t will become tiresome.
Sufice 1t to say that It il one of the
most ideal spots of earth, and he who
goes to the South Seas without see
ing Raiatea has missed the best of It.
! sail for Rarotonga tomorrow and
will find matters Of greater interest
there. 81