TAHITI.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume I, Issue 14, 17 June 1863, Page 6

TAHITI.

By the French barque Esperance we have received files of the " Messager de Taiti" to the 18th April, for which, and some personal information, we are entitled to the courtesy of Mr. Wilkins, the supercargo of the Esperance. Business in Tahiti was pretty brisk. Great excitement existed on account of the proceedings of the Peruvian vessels which have attempted to kidnap natives from the island, for the purpose of employing them at the Chincha Islands, in the shipping of guano. Several of the Tahitians had been induced to emigrate in these vessels by the false pretence of engaging them as agricultural laborers. It will be remembered that some time ago the French Hawaiian Consul at Lima protested against these proceedings, and we now learn that the French Governor of Tahiti has taken a more decided step. The Peruvian brig Marcedes de Wholey, of Callao, has been condemned and sold; and the brig Cora, captured by the Islanders of Bapa, and brought by them to Tahiti, was to be sold on the 6th May. The barque Serpiente Marina was detained, as also die brig Misti, all under Peruvian colors and seemingly chartered by a company at Callao. The brig Guyas got liberty to depart, but further reports from Callao state that some 20 or 25 vessels had sailed on a similar errand, and that some had actually returned with human cargoes. Easter Island has furnished a great many laborers or slaves, and a fleet of vessels combined had

committed great atrocities in an attack on the natives.

Tahiti has of late years changed considerably and civilization is progressing very favorably. The natives who were formerly scattered about the islands in small bands have been collected into villages for the purpose of instruction. The Government buys their uncultivated lands, and sells them to all arrivals at about 50 frs., or £2 an hectare. The present Governor is very popular with the European residents. An agent for a London house had purchased a very large tract of land for the purpose of cotton cultivation by means of Coolie labor, and great results are anticipated. Coffee, vanilla, and sugar at present constitute the principal cultivations of the Island, and the Government has offered premiums to cultivators to the amount of 100,000 francs. The bulk of Tahitian exports consist only of cocoanut oil, mother of pearl, shells, and tropical fruits, the trade in which articles has for many years been in the hands of merchants in Valparaiso and San Francisco.— Otago Daily Times.