TAHITI.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5385, 1 July 1878, Page 3

TAHITI.

In the narrative of his voyage round the 1 world in the 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 at 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 diminished. Captain Cook was present at a naval review at Tahiti at which 210 canoes were assembled. He estimates 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 Papiete, 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 Panmota, and the Tubuai groups, 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 the Pacific as a ‘ beach comber.’ This individual commences his relations with the merchant by entering into an engagement to build a house suitable for the sale of goods on someislandnot yet occupied byaresidenttrader. 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 goods, from the Tahitian merchants. The principal articles of export from Tahiti are cotton, copra or dried cocoanut kernels, cocoanut oil, pearl shells, maaya shells, edible. fungus for China, oranges, cocoanuts, limejuice, banco b nuts, and beohe-de-mer or tripang, besides vanilla, arrowroot, timber, pearls, ’Sr. o. In his report on the trade and navigation of Tahiti, published as a bluebook, in 1875, Consul Miller 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 £110,009. 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. The small vessels trading from Tahiti are admirable examples of naval architecture. The schooners despatched with manufactured goods for distribution through the Low Archipelago, the Marquesas; and the Leeward Islands, are built either at Humboldt ou 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 equal, in symmetry, speed, and ability to contend with the waves, to the fleet of yachts we are accustomed to see annually assembled at Cowes or Byde. The average speed of the brigs and schooners trading between San Francisco and Tahiti falls little short of 200 miles a day. This high average is due both to the sailing qualities of the vessels and to the steady winds that prevail within the limits of the trades. The harbor of Papiete presents a busy scene. Eonr barques, of large tonnage, lay at anchor on the evening of our departure. Three of these displayed the German flag, and one the ensign of the Canadian Dominion. The crew of the latter were imprisoned at Tahiti. The vessel was laden with guano, and was bound to Queenstown for ordors. 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 ; aud a counter-proposal 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 natives had been shipped in their place. Meanwhile the captain, on being called upon to pay the expense 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 he sailed. His owner would 'thua be subjected to . the heavy expenses of keeping's double 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 thus have saved an outlay of hundreds of pounds. In cases of this kind the owners generally take the side of the master. Often, fa so doing, they are unjust to the crew and too partial to the officers. XTnder existing arrangements, shipowners and the crew they employ have no direct dealings with one another ; and I venture to ■ affirm that a Utter of remonstrance from a dissatisfied crew at the end of a voyage would generally receive but scanty attention. On the 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 a feeling of indignation not the .leas deep because founded on an ex parts statement which tho accused have no opportunity of correcting. Many of tho vessels trading from, Tahiti are commanded by Germans, whoaro excellent navigators, and who bear a high character for general intelligence, sobriety, and trustworthiness. The numerous establishments belonging to Mr. Erahder, the principal merchant of Tahiti, indado a cotton-ginning factory, a blacksmith’s shop, a sailmaker’s loft, and stores containing anchors, boats, ropes, and equipments of all kinds for shipping. The warehouses are filled with flour, American and English fabrics, ironmongery, and preserved provisions. The test phase of Tahitian Church government was explained to mo by the consul. It would_appear that the rivalry of missionaries of different sects became at last so intolerable'to the Tnhithins that they established a church of their or Wi formed ou tho Presbyterian model, and

served by native ; os well on European siouaries.. When the French established their protectorate in Tahiti, some of tho mission-lies were suspected of Rowing the Feeds of distinction to the new rulers among their congiegations ; and on order was accordingly issued, that tho names of ministers elected to servo inj the native Church must be submitted to tie > Government for approval, practically the i nominations have remained in the hands o t io j natives: but though the Governing have never refused to confirm the elections that have been made, they have required that announcement of the appointment of a minister should be conveyed to him through an omcm channel. This intervention of the civil authorities was distasteful to the missionaries, who one hy one resigned, until now only one representative of tho Loudon Bible Society remains m Tahiti. He has no ministerial office, but is invited occasionally to preach.