The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1927-11-04


ridge of Aorai, eliminating 1000 feet
above the tides. Standing at the
head of the historic Fautaua valley,
it oyerlooks La Diademe and lesser
heights and guards a difficult en-
trance to the innermost recesses of
the island.
The Great Mountain Crown.
To its right rises great crown of
natures fashioning-La Diademe of
the French, the Maiauo of the Tahiti
ans. The loftiest of its jutting spurs,
which fancy has sculptured into king
ly insignia, towers 1000 feet above
the sea and seems to be covered to
its tip with vegetation. Between
Aorai and the lengthy ridges to the
right is a mighty gap. Through this
the Fautaua river cuts it's way, spill
ing ITSELF six miles from the sea, in
cascade more than 600 feet high.
In the foreground, mirrored in a
deep and clear harbor that swarms
with marine life of great variety and
diversified color, runs fringe of
aigaroba trees. Back of them are Sc
questered avenues of ''f1amboyant,"
tamarind, mango, and breadfruit.
From these Use an occasional red
tile roof, church spires, white flag
staffs, and tall coconut palms.
Sloping gradually from the town,
evergreen hills, SCARED here and
there by barren red and gray clay,
extend miles inland, where they over
look the Fautaua and Punaruu val
leys. They are broken into almost in
Vulnerable canyons and gullies all
over their surface.
AS the steamer draws near the
shore many small craft-the pictur-
esque outrigger canoe, the broad
beamed fruit boat, and the noisy gas
oline schooner-lie at anchor or move
about the lake-like harbor.
At the represented dock hundreds
groups of Americans and Europeans
are on hand to meet the boats from
Africa. 1t is variegated throng.
There are as many colOrs and shades
of complexion as there are of dress,
and some of the feminine possessors
are beautifully proportional and
move with queenly grace. Their dark
hair, crowned in some cases with q
wreath of the tiare, the flower of love
and friendship, hangs low on their
backs Their brilliant dark eyes
sparkle with good will and merry res
olution.
Everyone in Papeete rises early ex-
cept the tourist. The capital believes
in making the most Of the cool hours
Of the dawn. The market opens at
5 80, the shops remove their shutters
80 minutes later, and the laborer be-
gins work at the same hour.
Only the Carts Move Rapidly.
All this activity, however, is quiet
of lantern-lighted carts driven furi-
ously by native Jehus. These men of
the whip love speed, and they insist
on getting it, even though the horse
they drive looks like cadaver.
At II o'clock, and in some cases an
hour sooner, Papeete pauses to take
a siesta of an hour or two. During
this period all places of business are
closed, barring Chinese shops, which
keep open uninterruptedly until bed
time.
The most animated moment of the
towns daily life begins shortly after
it's 5000 inhabitants awaken. The site
of this activity is the market square.
Sunday is the chief market day of
the week. At that time neatly dressed
men and women from many parts of
Tahiti assemble at the market half
an hour before the opening bell clangs
it's signal.
On the previous day and night, boat
loads of feis (plantains) and oranges
are laid outside the market building
in preparation for the morning rush,
and in the Sabbath dawn strings of
fish and wagons filled with soil prod
ucts are hurried to the victualers' ,
stands.
The scene is enlivening; the crowd
is friendly and gay. There meet
comrades and relatives who have long
been separated; there white and
brown elbow each other in neighborly
fashion.
Within 80 minutes after the first
customer is served the fish benches
are stripped, and the butchers, bak-
ers and vegetable men, have parted
with more than half their stock. In
an hour the market Is almost deserted.