TAHITI.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1386, 25 July 1878, Page 3

TAHITI.

In the narrative of his voyage round the world in tho yacht Sunbeam, Mr T. Brassey gives the following description of the Island of Tahiti, which is published in the "Nineteenth Century" : " The population of Tahiti is estimated a 8000. Some authorities are of opinion that it has increased since the arrival of the first missionaries. Others, and among them competent and reliable native observers, are convinced that the numbers have greatly dim ni. shed. Captain Cook was present at a naval review at Tahiti at which 210 canoes were assembled. He estimated the entire Tahitian flotilla at 1720 war canoes, manned by 68,000 able men. In this estimate the canoes of the adjacent islands must have been included. The trade at Tahiti is in the hands of three or four large mercantile houses, which have central depots at Ptipiete, and several branch depots in other islands. They possess large fleets of schooners, by means of which they trade with all the islands of the Marquesas, the Paumota, and the Tubuai G-roups, and the Georgian and Society Islands. Their larger vessels make regular passages between Tahiti, San Francisco, Valparaiso, Australia, and New Zealand. Where the merchants have no depot, and this must be the usual case, they consign their goods to some European, who is generally the retired master of a small merchant vessel, or a runaway sailor, known in the special phraseology of tho Pacific as a' beach- comber.' This individual commences his relations with the merchant by entering into an engagement to build a house suitable for tho sale of goods on some island not yet occupied by a resident trader. The house being provided, a small parcel of goods, say of the value of £2O, is consigned to him on credit, and his profit is made by selling at an advanced rate to the natives. As the trader proceeds he will, if successful, extend his operations, obtaining larger and larger credits, in the form of consignments of goads, from the Tahitian merchants. The principal articles of export from Tahiti are cotton, copra or dried cocoanut kernals, cocoanut oil, pearl shells, maava shells, edible fungus for China, oranges, cocoanuts, limejuice, bancobnuts, and beche-de-mer or tripang, beside vanilla, arrowroot, timber, pearls, &e. In his report on the trade and navigation of Tahiti, published as a bluebook, in 1875, Consul Mdler states that the value of the exports from the island in 1874, according to the average -wholesale prices during the year, may be estimated at £IIO,OOO. The invoice value of the imports for the same year from all countries, South Sea Island products only excepted, may be approximately estimated at about £125,000. Tho small vessels trading from Tahiti are admirable examples of naval architecture. The schooners despatched with manufactured goods for distribution through the Low Archipelago, tho Marquesas, and the Leeward Islands, arc built either at Humboldt on the coast of California, or in New Zealand. Their tonnage varies from 100 to 200 tons. Rigged as fore-and-aft schooners, after the plan of the celebrated America, they are at least eqiial in symmetry, speed, and ability to contend with the waves, to the fleet of yachts we are accustomed to Bee annually assembled at Cowes or Ryde. The average speed of the brigs and schooners trading between San Francisco and Tahiti falls short of 200 miles a day. This average is due both to sailing qualities of the vessels and _to the steady winds that prevail within the limits of the trades. The harbor of Papieta presents a busy scene. Four barques of large tonnage iay at anchor on the evening of our departure. Three of these displayed the German flag, and one the ensign of Canadian Dominion. The crew of the latter were imprisoned at Tahiti. The vessel wa3 laden with guano, and was bound to Queenstown |for orders. Shortly after leaving Lima the cook fell ill, whereupon the captain suggested that one man in each watch should cook for his shipmates. This proposal was objected to on the ground that the vessel was already undermanned ; and a counterproposal was made that the captain's servant should become cook. To this the captain would have consented, had not his wife objected. A series of altercations ensued, which became more and more bitter, until at last the crew refused to work, and the ship was brought into Tahiti by the officers. The men, as has been said, were at the time of our visit in prison, and a crew of i:a' ives had been shipped in their place. Meanwhile the captain on being called to pay expe 1 se of the imprisonment of his original crew, objected. I understood, however, that he would be compelled to defray the cost of their maintenance here, and would, in addition, be required to carry them to Queenstown when ho sailed. His owner would thus be subjected to the heavy expenses of keeping a doubie crew for several months, and the ship would have been detained at least a month on her voyage. A more conciliatory spirit would probably have averted a rupture, and thug have saved an outlay of hundreds of pounds. In cuscb of this kind the owners geuerally take tho sido of the master. Often, in so doing, they are unjust to the crew and too partial to the officers. Under existing arrangements, shipowners and the crew they employ have no direct dealings with one another; and I venture to affirm

thflb a letter of remonstrance from a dissatisfied crew at the end ox a voyage would l' generally receive but scanty attention. On (he other hand, the master is in constant communication with the owners. His representations of the misconduct of the crew are received without question, and with feeling of indignation not the less deep because founded on an ex parte statement which the accused have no opportunity of correcting. Many of tho resssls trading from Tahiti ore commanded by Germans, who arc excellent navigators, and who bear a high character for general inteiligencs, sobriety, and trustworthiness. The numerous establishments belonging to Mr Brander, the principal merchant of Tahiti, include a cotton ginning factory, a blacksmith's shop, a eaihmker's loft, and stores containing anchors, boats, ropes, and equipments of all kinds for shipping. Tho warehouses are filled with Hour, American and

English fabrics, ironmongery, and preserved provisions. The test, phase of Tahitan Church government was explained to me by the consul. It would appear that the rivalry of miseionaries of different sects became at last so intolerable to the Tahitans that they established a church of their own, formed on the Presbyterian model, and served by natives as well as European missionaries. When the French established their protectorate in Tahiti, some of the missionaries were guspected of sowing the seed of disaffection to the new rulers among their congregations ; and an order was accordingly issued that the names of ministers elected to servo in the native Church must be submitted to the Government for approval. Practically the nominations have remained in the hands of the natives: but though the Government have never refused to confirm the elections that have been made, they have required that the announcement of the appointment of a minifter should be conveyed to him through an official channel. This intervention of the chil authorities was distasteful to the missionaries, who one by one resigned, until now only one representative of the London Bible Society remains in Tahiti. He has no ministerial office, but is invited occasionally to preach.