_TAHITI.--NASSAU ISLAND.--UNION GROUP._
We sailed from Coquimbo on the 14th of June; and after a somewhat
uneventful voyage across the Pacific, which was considerably prolonged
by sounding operations, and which lasted fifty-three days, we arrived
at Tahiti.
Tahiti was discovered, in the year 1606, by a Spanish exploring
expedition, which set out from Peru under the command of Pedro
Fernandez de Quiros, a navigator who had previously acquired some
renown in Mendaña's exploration of the New Hebrides group. One of
his vessels anchored for a short time off the island; but as a
landing could not be safely effected by means of the ship's boats, an
adventurous young Spanish sailor stripped and swam to the shore, where
he was well received by the natives; so that the honour of having
discovered Tahiti and communicated with the natives is justly due to
this expedition. The name then given to the island by Quiros was "La
Sagittaria."
In 1767 Tahiti was visited by an English exploring ship, the _Dolphin_,
commanded by Captain Wallis, who, unaware of the visit of Quiros, and
imagining himself to be the original discoverer, set up an English flag
at Matavai Bay, took possession in the name of King George III., and
named the island "King George's Island." The account given by Wallis
of this visit (published in Hawksworth's "Voyages") is full of most
curious and interesting information, and perhaps in this respect equals
the well-known narrative subsequently given to the world by our
greatest navigator, Cook.
[Illustration: WOMAN OF TAHITI (_p. 147_). _To face p. 144._]
In the following year (1768), M. de Bougainville, of the French frigate
_Boudeuse_, arrived independently at Tahiti, and, being in ignorance of
the priority of Spanish and English explorers, gave to the island its
third name, "Nouvelle Cythére."
On the 12th of April, 1769, the expedition sent out from England under
the command of Captain Cook, to observe the transit of Venus, arrived
at Tahiti, and anchored at Matavai Bay. To protect the astronomers from
the intrusion of the natives, a small fort was erected on the north
shore of the bay, and from this position the transit was observed on
the 3rd of June of the same year.
Through a misconception of the native pronunciation, the name of the
island, "Otaheite," was now brought into general use by Cook; and
although it was clearly pointed out by Ellis--the missionary who wrote
in 1832--that Tahiti was really the native name, the term "Otaheite,"
erroneously assigned by Cook, remained in use for many years subsequent
to the time of Ellis.
About the beginning of the present century the English missionaries,
who had previously established themselves in Western Polynesia,
extended their labours to Tahiti, where they met with great success
in their efforts to Christianize the inhabitants. They retained
their influence over the natives until the year 1838, when two
French Catholic missionaries arrived at Tahiti, with the intention
of preaching the doctrines of their Church. They were not, however,
allowed to obtain a footing on the island, but were forcibly expelled.
They accordingly sought the protection of the French admiral, Du Petit
Thouars, then commanding the frigate _La Venus_ in the Pacific, and in
the year 1842 he demanded satisfaction in the name of his government;
and on Queen Pomare of Tahiti refusing to accede to his demand, he
declared war against the Tahitians. The islanders were compelled to
submit to the superior power of the French; and on coming to terms
with their conquerors, it was agreed that the Tahitians should be
allowed to retain their own form of government, but under a French
Protectorate, and that freedom should be given to all persons to
practise or preach whatever religion they pleased.
The Protectorate continued in force until July 1880, when, at the
request of King Pomare V. and the native chiefs, the island and its
dependencies were definitely ceded to France, so that they now form an
integral part of the French Republic.
Our visit to Tahiti took place a few weeks after the French annexation.
At daybreak on the 6th August, 1880, we sighted the south-eastern
extremity of the island, and on closing the land skirted along its
north-east coast, having thus on our port hand a magnificent panoramic
view of this lovely island. As we passed abreast of some of the deeper
valleys, we got glimpses of the famous Diadem Peak, which rises to an
altitude of 7,000 feet. Its summit is jagged, so as to present a very
distinct resemblance to a royal crown, and hence the name "crown" or
"diadem" so aptly assigned. I was much struck by the resemblance which
the scenery here presented to that of Madeira. The conformation of the
volcanic peaks and ridges is very similar, but the vegetable covering
is of a sap green tint, whereas that of Madeira, seen from a similar
distance, appears of a bronze hue. At the distance from the land which
the barrier reef obliged us to maintain, the belt of cocoa-nut trees
which covers the shore platform was only visible through the telescope.
In the harbour of Papiété, where we anchored, were the French flagship
_Victorieuse_, an ironclad, and a wooden sloop the _Dayot_. Here we had
abundant evidence of the extreme care taken by the French Government
to render the harbour and its surroundings as perfect in every respect
as a lavish expenditure of money could effect. A solidly-built
sea-wall, alongside of which merchant vessels were landing and shipping
cargoes, fronted the settlement; a neatly-kept alameda, shaded by the
luxuriant foliage of large Hibiscus trees, covered what was formerly
the coral foreshore; broad streets running in at right angles to
the wharf traversed the town; a dockyard with spacious sheds and
storehouses covered a low point jutting out on the northern side of
the harbour; and on a small picturesque island lying near the entrance
was a gun battery nestling under tall cocoa-nut trees, and yet so
constructed as not to detract from the romantic appearance of this
beautiful and marvellous work of nature. The Tahitians still retain
and deserve their old reputation for great amiability of disposition
and extraordinary good humour. One is greeted by almost every native
passed on the road with the friendly salutation "Yoronha" (meaning
"good-day"), accompanied by a merry smile. Indeed, one cannot help
being struck by the number of smiling, laughing faces seen at Tahiti,
and to my mind there is nothing more characteristic of the Tahitians,
as distinguished from all other islanders, than the ever smiling face
reflecting genuine good humour for which there is no apparent cause.
In many respects, however, they seem to have improved but little since
the time of Wallis. Morality is still at a very low ebb, and the abuse
of intoxicating drinks is an evil which seems likely in time to create
sad havoc among them. For unfortunately, since the French annexation,
spirit shops have been thrown open to the natives, although, under
the old missionary _régime_, the possession of spirit of any kind was
forbidden by the command of Queen Pomare. Of late years the population
has been increasing, owing to the abolition of infanticide, which was
formerly the fashion of the country.
The principal products of the island are cotton, sugar, cocoa-nuts,
oranges, and vanilla. These articles are sent to San Francisco, with
which port there is monthly communication by means of sailing vessels;
the cocoa-nut trade being perhaps in this, as in most other Polynesian
islands, the most reliable industry. Usually the sun-dried kernel,
known commercially as "Copra," is exported, but sometimes the nuts are
shipped entire. The cultivation of the cocoa-nut tree does not require
much trouble. The ripe nuts, if exposed on the ground in places where
they are free from the depredations of land-crabs and centipedes,
readily germinate, and on being planted at distances of about five
yards apart, they take root and require no further care. However,
those planted in good soil give, as might be expected, an earlier and
more productive yield than is afforded by trees grown in the poor
land which usually adjoins the coral sea-beach. A cocoa-nut planted
in average soil commences to bear fruit in about the fifth year of
its existence, and from that time until it has attained the age of a
hundred years,--when it is probably blown down,--it yields about twelve
dozen nuts per annum.
A large trade is also done in oranges. They are packed up in boxes and
shipped to San Francisco, and although about half of the cargo decays
during the voyage, the profit derived from the other half is found to
yield a sufficient remuneration.
The cultivation of vanilla--an introduced plant--requires great care,
artificial aid being necessary to ensure the proper fertilization
of the flowers. Samples of the cured bean which we saw seemed to
be of very fair quality, and likely to command high prices in the
European markets. These are now sold at Tahiti at the rate of 4_s._
per pound;--I should rather have said at the rate of a dollar a pound,
because, strange to say, the currency at Tahiti is in Chilian silver
dollars, whereas in Chili itself the currency is now almost entirely in
paper, a hard dollar being very rarely encountered there.
The great war canoes are now things of the past, even the single
outrigger canoes being only used by the poorer classes who cannot
afford to buy boats of European build. The manufacture of pandanus mats
and native cloth is also becoming obsolete, and it is said that the
art of making these things is almost unknown to the rising generation.
At present the favourite occupation of the natives, if we exclude
dancing and lolling in the sunshine, is fishing; and a well-to-do
native, who can afford to provide himself with an European fishing net,
makes plenty of dollars to spend in drink and gay-coloured clothes.
The fishermen of the poorer class paddle out on the reef at night,
and spear fish by torchlight as of old, so that every night the reefs
outside the harbour are gaily illumined by these torch fires.
[Illustration: FISHERMAN OF TAHITI. _To face p. 148._]
A few days after our arrival at Papiété, I made an excursion to
Point Venus, the northern extremity of Matavai Bay, in company with
a party of our surveying officers, who wished to take sights at this
station for chronometric measurements of longitude; Point Venus being
one of the secondary meridians to which longitudes in the Pacific
are referred. The distance from Papiété is about six miles. We went
in one of the ship's steam-cutters, taking a small boat in tow; and
after a somewhat hazardous passage among the reefs, which here form an
irregular barrier along the coast, we reached Matavai Bay. We landed
easily upon a smooth sloping beach of black volcanic sand--the detritus
brought down from the hills by a neighbouring stream; and while the
observers established themselves and their instruments on a grass plot
near the base of the lighthouse, I took a stroll into the surrounding
country, having at my disposal about five hours.
The French keeper of the lighthouse, who was most obliging, pointed out
to us a square slab of coral rock imbedded in the ground, and bearing
on its surface a deeply-chiselled groove. It was placed there some
ten years ago, to replace one which had been fixed there in the year
1839 by Captain Wilkes, of the United States Exploring Expedition,
and was, I understand, intended to assist in determining the exact
position of a submerged coral knoll, some 100 yards from the shore, on
which measurements were made for determining the rate of growth of the
coral. We were also shown a large and venerable tamarind tree near the
lighthouse, which is said to have been planted more than 100 years ago
by our own great navigator, Cook. Cocoa-nuts, bread-fruit, oranges,
bananas, and mangoes, grew in great profusion, and the greatest and
most good-natured eagerness was shown by the natives in putting these
delicious fruits at our disposal.
We also saw a large extent of cleared land devoted to the cultivation
of cotton plants, and near one of the native huts vanilla was growing
successfully.
Nothing could exceed the civility of the natives in pressing food
upon us, and in furnishing us with information. They know very little
English, but many of them speak French, which the rising generation are
taught in the government schools.
In one of the larger and more pretentious style of native huts,
apparently that of a district chief, we read a proclamation, printed in
French and Tahitian on opposite columns, announcing to the inhabitants
the definitive annexation of the island and its dependencies; and,
after pointing out in glowing colours the great advantages accruing to
the natives from the complete establishment of French rule, it wound up
with, "_Vive la France. Vive Tahiti._"
One is much struck by the great scarcity of birds in Tahiti. There are,
in fact, not more than six species of indigenous birds, and of these an
average day's walk will only afford examples of the swallow; although
in the mountain valleys, paroquets, pigeons, and kingfishers are met
with, though rarely.
In the course of an afternoon's walk about the environs of Papiété,
we were accosted by a portly native dressed in European clothes, who,
sitting in a four-wheeled buggy, and accompanied by three native
attendants, pulled up abreast of us. At his feet he had a large
demijohn of wine, from which he had evidently been imbibing freely, for
by way of salutation he greeted us with a volley of most disgusting
oaths and imprecations. This seemed to be all the English he was
acquainted with. A bystander informed us that the name of this native
gentleman was "Tamitao," and that he was no less a personage than the
brother of King Pomare V., the present monarch. The latter now only
possesses a nominal sovereignty; for on ceding his possessions to the
French, he relinquished all monarchical authority, and receives instead
an annual stipend of 8,000 dollars, a pension which, we were told,
would not be continued to his heir. It is said but I know not with
what truth, that one of the principal reasons which induced him to sell
his birthright was a desire to exclude from the succession his nominal
son, whom he believes to be illegitimate. Our conference with the
royal brother was not an agreeable one, for he presently gathered up
the reins, and amid a volley of imprecations delivered in the coarsest
style of Billingsgate English, this tatterdemalion prince of an ancient
dynasty flogged his horses into a gallop, and rattled away on his
drunken career.
On the evening before our departure we were present at a ball which was
given at the royal palace by the French inhabitants of Tahiti. It was
intended to celebrate the annexation of the island by France, and was
supposed to be the occasion for mutual congratulations between King
Pomare and his chiefs on the one hand, and the Governor and French
Admiral on the other. Pomare was attired in a gorgeous dress richly
embroidered with gold lace, and the French officials appeared in full
dress. The native chiefs were, however, very shabbily turned out in
faded European clothes, and although for the most part very fine men,
yet they looked very much as if they were ashamed of themselves, and
were by no means at their ease in the richly-decorated ball-room. Among
the quasi chiefs was "Paofai," an old gentleman who did duty as our
washerman, wearing a black alpaca monkey-jacket, and carrying under his
arm a large white sun-helmet, which he seemingly thought a becoming
addition to his otherwise somewhat incongruous attire. He and his
_confrères_ would have shown to much more advantage in their ordinary
native costume. Supper began about midnight, and it was then, and not
till then, that the royal family and chiefs seemed to flourish in their
proper element, the quantity of food and drink which they stowed away
in their huge carcases being something prodigious.
A few days before the close of our visit to Tahiti, I received, through
the kindness of Monsieur Parrayon, captain of the French man-of-war
_Dayot_, a large coral of the Fungia group, which had just been
removed from the bottom of his ship as the copper was being cleaned
by native divers. The occurrence is interesting as illustrating
the rapidity of the growth of coral in these waters. There was the
following history:--The _Dayot_ had entered the tropical waters of
the South Pacific about seven months previously, having come directly
from the coast of Chili. She visited some of the islands, but made no
long stay in harbour until she reached Manga Reva (Gambier Islands),
where she remained for two months in the still waters of a coral basin.
On entering this basin, she touched the reef slightly, and without
sustaining any damage. From Manga Reva she sailed to Tahiti, where she
arrived about the same time as the _Alert_.
Several specimens of living coral were found attached to the copper
sheathing, that which I received being the largest. It was discoidal
in shape, with its upper and under surfaces respectively convex and
concave, and near the centre of the under surface there was a scar,
where the pedicle by which it was attached to the copper sheathing
appeared to have been broken through. The disc measured nine inches in
diameter, and the weight of the specimen, when half dry, was two pounds
fourteen ounces. On examining the under surface, another disc, three
and three-quarter inches in diameter, was visible, partly imbedded in
the more recent coral growth. Of this old disc about one-sixth part was
dead and uncovered by new coral, and was stained of a deep blue colour
from contact with the copper, while the outline of the rest of this old
disc was plainly discernible, although partially covered in by plates
of new coral.
It is probable that on touching the reef at Manga Reva nine weeks
previously, a young Fungia was jammed against the copper, became
attached, and subsequently grew until it attained its present
dimensions.
About midday of the 27th August we arrived off Nassau Island, in
latitude 11° 31′ S., longitude 165° 25′ W. It is of coral
formation, about half a mile long by a quarter of a mile broad, and
somewhat elliptical in general outline. It was thickly wooded with
tall screw pines, rising from a scrub of matted brushwood, and at the
northern end of the island some cocoa-nuts were seen. It was discovered
in the year 1835 by an American whale-ship, the _Nassau_, from which
circumstance it derives its name. There were then no inhabitants on the
island.
When about three miles off we lay to and sounded, getting bottom at
1,000 fathoms, on coral sand. At the same time a party of us started
off in a whale boat to land, but this we soon found to be no easy
matter, for the island was encircled by a broad fringing reef, on the
sharp outer edge of which the surf everywhere broke heavily. Over our
heads were flying and screaming great numbers of sea-birds, among which
I noticed a dusky brown tern with a white forehead patch, and a large
brown gannet, of both of which I obtained specimens.
While we were vainly looking out for a landing-place, a white man,
accompanied by two Polynesians, launched a small outrigger canoe from
the reef edge, and paddled out to us. From the white man we learned
that the island belonged to a Mr. Halicott, an American gentleman, for
whom he had been acting as care-taker for the previous five years, and
that he and his native assistants were engaged in planting cocoa-nuts,
and hoped in time to do a remunerative trade in copra. There were,
he said, only three or four trees bearing nuts, and the bread-fruit
did not grow on the island. The present population amounted to six,
viz.--the white man and his wife, and two natives from Danger Islands,
with their wives. As for live stock, they had only two dogs and two
pigs, and regarding the latter our informant remarked, with much
concern, that they were not in a condition to multiply. For supplies of
food, excepting fish, which was of course abundant, he depended on a
sailing vessel, which visited the island once a year, bringing rice and
meal. Water, fortunately, was plentiful.
Continuing on our course, on the following morning (August 28th), we
sighted the Tema Reef, in latitude 10° 7′ S., longitude 165° 32.5′
W., and steaming up to and around it, we made a series of soundings,
which occupied our surveyors for half the day. The reef, a submerged
one, is indicated by a circular patch of breakers about a quarter of
a mile in circumference, from one part of which a long tapering line
of surf extends in a north-east direction, making the entire affair
have some resemblance in outline to a tadpole. A cloud of white spray
overhung this great mass of seething water, and the frightful tumble
and confusion of the crests of the breakers as they uprose in pyramids
twenty feet in height, made one shudder to think of the consequences
to an ill-fated vessel striking on this reef. Its position is given
correctly on the old charts.
On the same evening we passed about four miles to the northward of the
Danger Islands, a low coral group, which is found to be about six miles
to the eastward of the position assigned to it on the charts on the
authority of the Tuscarora (U. S.) Expedition.
In the forenoon of the 3rd September we sighted Fakaata, or Bowditch
Island, and some hours later Nukunono, which lies in latitude 9° 24′
S., longitude 171° 27′ W. These two islands, with Oatáfu, which lies
further to the westward, constitute the Union Group. They are all low
lagoon-islands. At 3.30 p.m., when abreast of Nukunono, we altered
course and stood in towards the land, and when about three miles off
observed an outrigger canoe with three men in it, paddling towards
us. The crew consisted of one white man and two Polynesian natives.
The former came on board, and proved to be a Portuguese, in a very
attenuated condition, and sadly in want of provisions. He told us in
broken English that he had lived on the island for sixteen years,
that he was the only white man there, and that the native population
amounted to eighty. A conspicuous white building which we had noticed
on the island was, he informed us, a church, presided over by a native
missionary teacher, there being at present no clergyman on the island.
He besought us to give some biscuit, salt meat, and nails, for which
he tendered payment in dollars, which was of course refused; but
his heart was gladdened by a free gift of the stores he required, as
well as other useful articles. He said that he very rarely saw any
vessels--not more than once in ten months--and that no "labour ships"
visited the island. The latter are small vessels whose owners make a
living by conveying Polynesian natives to the Australian colonies,
where they are employed as labourers, under--usually--a three years'
contract.
The only native production was "copra," which was taken away by trading
vessels that made visits at long intervals.
Fish were at times abundant, and they had a good many pigs, which
were allowed to run wild. The natives, he said, were a very friendly,
well-disposed people, of whom we saw two very promising examples in the
canoe alongside.
We were obliged to get under way after only half an hour's stay, when
our Portuguese friend shoved off, heavily laden with presents, and
bidding us an affectionate farewell.
On the following morning (September 4th) we reached Oatáfu, the most
westerly island of the group, and the ship was hove to at about three
miles distance from that part of the island where the native settlement
is situated. A boat was then sent in, from which a party landed, but
not without some difficulty, it being found necessary to anchor the
boat outside the line of breakers, and obtain the services of a native
canoe to bring us through the surf.
We were received by the natives with every demonstration of good-will,
and were at once conducted to the house of the native missionary
teacher, who seemed to a great extent to occupy the position of a
chief. We found the worthy old gentleman seated on a mat in the corner
of his hut, a position from which he never stirred during the time
of our visit. After drinking cocoa-nut milk, and exchanging some
ceremonious remarks with the teacher through the imperfect medium of a
native interpreter, we extricated ourselves from the crowd of natives
that hemmed us in, and started on a stroll of inspection through the
settlement.
The men are fine specimens of the Polynesian race, well-built and with
frank, open countenances; but the women are much inferior to them, both
in good looks, and, as it seemed to me, in manners.
A great number of both sexes were affected with a rather unsightly
skin-disease, evidently of a parasitic character, which they call
"peeter." It begins on the chest and shoulders in small circular
patches somewhat resembling "ringworm," and eventually extends over
the entire cutaneous surface, causing desquamation of the cuticle,
and giving rise to a very distressing itching. When the disease has
become well established, the skin exhibits grooves of the "snail-track"
pattern, which intersect each other in various directions; so that on
examining at a few yards distance a man who is extensively diseased, he
seems at first sight as if covered with artificial cicatrices, arranged
so as to represent some hieroglyphic device. They possess no remedy for
this disease, and were therefore extremely anxious to obtain from us
some treatment for it. In other respects they seem to be a very healthy
people.
We crossed the narrow strip of land--only a few hundred yards wide--on
which lies the settlement, and then found ourselves on the margin of an
extensive lagoon, on the smooth sandy beach of which outrigger canoes
in great numbers were hauled up. The island is an irregular atoll, that
portion on which we were being continuous for about three-fifths of the
circle, while the remaining portion was made up by a straggling chain
of islets.
During our subsequent stroll through the settlement, I obtained some
information from an intelligent native who spoke a little English,
and seemed to be one of the principal people. He seemed to be very
proud of his small stock of knowledge concerning "Britannia," as he
called Great Britain, and was very particular in explaining that he
was a Protestant, and disapproved strongly of Catholicism, which he
looked on as the height of infamy. He was therefore surprised and much
crestfallen at hearing that _all_ Englishmen were not Protestants.
We were unable to obtain many curiosities in the way of native
implements, as according to the calendar of the island it was the
Sabbath day, and was as such strictly observed; although with us,
keeping eastern time and longitude, it was of course a Saturday.
However, by a judicious distribution of a few plugs of tobacco, which I
emphatically called "presents," and by bestowing on my native friend a
surgical lancet, which he was very anxious to possess, I received--also
as "presents"--a few implements, viz., a large wooden shark-hook with
rope snooding made of cocoa-nut fibres, a small fish-hook, the stem
of which was made of pearl shell and the hook of turtle shell, a
fish-hook made of cocoa-nut husk, neatly carved, and the blade of an
old native adze fashioned out of a clamshell. I was very glad to get
these articles, for since the introduction of iron tools the ancient
stone and shell implements have been thrown away and lost sight of, so
that it is now exceedingly difficult to procure any of them. No weapons
of any kind are used, and the spear is not used even for fishing. I
entered one of the better class of native huts, and found it clean
and neatly arranged; and as in the hut of the missionary teacher,
pictures cut from the London illustrated papers were stuck against the
walls, and pointed out to us as objects of special pride. The entire
population at this time numbered 260, and was presided over until a few
weeks prior to our visit by a king. The late monarch, however, having
shown himself to be a good-for-nothing sort of person, was deposed by
his subjects, who now get on very well without any form of government
excepting that of the missionaries.
There was one white man living on the island, a Scotchman named Adam
Mayne, who collects cocoa-nut oil on behalf of the firm of Henderson
and Macfarlane, of Auckland. He receives supplies every three months
or thereabouts from a trading vessel; but as the latter was now three
months overdue, he was very glad to receive from us a present of
biscuit and medical stores.
The Christianizing of the island has been undertaken by the London
Missionary Society, who send at long intervals a missionary clergyman
to inspect the settlement, and confer with their delegate, the native
missionary.
The natural products are very limited, consisting solely of cocoa-nuts
and fish. The latter commodity abounds. Pearl shell is obtained, but
not in sufficient quantities to be an article of commerce.
Adam Mayne told us that sharks were very numerous, and were caught with
the hook and line; but no case had ever occurred of a native being
injured by them, although they were accustomed to swim in the open sea
outside the reef, a fact of which we ourselves had ocular proof. At
the same time, curiously enough, many instances had occurred at the
Windward Islands, Nukunono and Fakaata, of natives being taken down by
sharks. Turtle are occasionally caught, and of these the shell of the
carapace is used for making hooks for fishing, which native-made hooks
are, by-the-bye, preferred to our English ones. Indeed, they say that
the fish will not take our metal hooks at all.
On the afternoon of the same day (September 4th) we again got under
way, and continued on our course to the westward, fixing the positions
of islands and taking negative soundings frequently. On the 13th of
September we obtained soundings on the Lalla Rookh bank in latitude
13° 5′ S., longitude 175° 26′ W., the depth ranging from twelve
to seventeen fathoms. With the snap-lead a sample of the bottom was
brought up, consisting of a lump of dead coral incrusted with red
nullipores, and riddled in all directions by the borings of annelids.