TAHITI.

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 51, 30 January 1869, Page 5

TAHITI.

A correigPondent to the "Aucklanc Weekly New!^!gives an account of t visit to the Soaery^slands. He arrivec at Papeete, the capfttal of Tahiti, ai the time of the Emperor&Viete, and describes the festivities, athletic\sports, &c., which characterize the celebrarasm. The male Natives he describes as tafl^and athletic " models of shape and strength./ Of the women he speaks in the following glowing terms :: — w If this description of the men may seem as favouring them too highly, what must be said of the women, whose voices are soft and sweet, and whose glances are bright and pleasant 1 As they pass you in the street in their long robes of printed muslin, clothed from the shoulders to the very feet, you are astonished at their stature, and with their graceful gait and gesture. Their long straight raven hair falls in two plaits over their back, and on many of their heads sits a pretty tiny hat of straw, most jauntily put on, and perhaps ornamented, •frith a few small scarlet flowers. Many, again, go about entirely bare-headed, whilst the trees that' line the streets 1 shelter them from the glaring sun. Mind, these are not black people we are talking aboxit, but females with skins certainly less fair than our own country women, and yet not darker than the olive complexions of Italy and Spain ; and to orowh all they are most becomingly apparelled." The island home of these beauties is about thirty-two miles long, and is an elongated range of high land, with 'fertile valleys interspersed. Thero is an excellent road round its whole extent, and it possesses several excellent harbours!. The" town of Papeete is beautifully situated, and boasts several substantial edifices. ' Tahiti is under French protection) and is garrisoned by a single company di infantry. **TKe power of the* native Queen Pomare is almost nominal, although she keeps up all the dhofw of regal state. Living; appears expensive in Tahiti ; workmen pay sdols. fof board without lodging ; fresh beef is lOd. per lb. ; eggs, 50c. per doz., and so on in proportion. Fruit and vegetables, on the contrary, are' cheap and plentiful — half-a-crown being the cost of a week's stipply. '"' Both the soil and eliminate of this island are " superb," but the difficulties in the way of co]onis"atioii appear insuperable. Jt is difficult to obtain land, the natives being unwilling to sell, especially to strangers. Atlo'me distajnee from" the' capital, however, it can "be obtained for about £1 per are. A wor.se difficulty is the impossibility of getting tlie natives to work, which appears the prini ciple barrier to this magnifßcot country attracting crowds of immigiailts. -As a cotton-growing country, Taliti appcarfe 1 destined 1 to take a high rankl .An Engjli3h compa'uy havo a plantaion at Atimaonb} which returns the llcky shareholders some twenty-five parent, per annum in dividends. It is worked by 916 Chinese, 460 Kanakas, aiu 25 Europeans ; the groSs expenses bjing about £30,000 per annum. 2,000 aYes are in cultivation — 1800 under cottfonfeso Btfgarcane, 250 maize, G rice ; ajul til yield oi cotton for 1868 was 3,081,-59-ilbs. The whole of this is slapped to AucUan4f fcnfl thence transhipped tc^ Englandi On the whole, in spite of the difficnltm in the way, Tahiti appears worthy « notioe from those desirous of seelting At a newhome. I '