A.—3a

2

the Commandant, in the belief that, in the interests of his country and of his family, he could have no more efficacious protection than that of France. On the 29th June, 1880, in the presence of all the Chiefs of Tahiti and Moorea, the Commissioner of the Republic announced the King's abdication, and his acknowledgment of the sovereignty of France, the conditions of which had already been concerted with the King and the principal Chiefs. Pomare V. solemnly approved this public act, and, the Chiefs having first affixed their signatures to the Declaration, the King signed it, as well as the representatives of France. Thereupon, the Commandant published his acceptance of the sovereignty, in the following terms : — "We, the Commandant and Commissioner of the Eepublic in the French establishments of Oceania, in exercise of the powers confided to us, declare that we accept, in the name of the Government of the French Eepublic, the rights and powers now conferred upon us by Pomare V. with whom all the Chiefs of Tahiti and Moorea have associated themselves; and we declare, subject to ratification by the French Government, that the Society Islands and their dependencies are united to France." The Chamber of Deputies and the Senate having ratified the cession, the President of the Republic promulgated, on the 30th September, 1880, the following law: — "Article I.—The President of the Republic is authorized to notify, and cause to be executed, the declarations signed on the 29th July, 1880, by King Pomare V. and the Commissioner of the French Republic at the Society Islands, by which the sovereignty of she territories dependent on the Crown of Tahiti are ceded to France. " Article 2.—The Island of Tahiti, and the archipelagos depending upon it, are declared to be French Colonies. " Article 3.—French nationality is conferred in full upon all the former subjects of the King of Tahiti." Then followed an article relating to the formalities to be fulfilled by strangers born in the "States of the Protectorate" who desired to acquire French nationality. The Commandant of Tahiti published this law on the 24th March, 1881, in the Journal Official of the Colony, in the presence of the French and Tahitian authorities, and of the Consuls of the foreign Powers. The following is a description of the French establishments. They comprise : —The Marquesas Islands, which have belonged to France since the Ist of May, 1842 ; the Island of Tahiti, which is the seat of Government; the Island of Moorea; the archipelago of the Low Islands, or Tuamotu ; Rapa Island; the islands of Tubuai and Raivavae [Vivitao on the English maps], which have been annexed to France by virtue of the convention with King Pomare V. and of the law of the 30th December, 1880. (i.) The Marquesas group, situated between the parallels of 8° and 10° south latitude and 143° and 141° west longitude, comprise eleven islands or islets, forming two groups. The north-west group comprises:—(l) The island of Eiao (inhabited); (2) Motuiti (inhabited); (3) Hatutu (inhabited) ; (4) Nukahiva, with a population of 2,700 ; (5) Hapu, population, 1,220; and (6) Hanka, population, 450. The south-east group comprises five islands, namely:—(l) Tanata, population, 630; (2) Hivava, population, 6,000; (3) Patuhuka (inhabited); (4) Motane (inhabited); and (5) Patuhiva, population, 1,000. (ii.) Tahiti and Moorea.- —The Island of Tahiti, the centre of the French establishments in the Eastern Pacific, is situated between 17° 29' 30" and 17° 47' of south latitude, and between 150° 29' 23" and 151° 56' west longitude. It is subdivided into Tahiti Island and the Peninsula of Taiarapu, united by an isthmus about 14 metres above the sea-level, at the site of the fort of Taravao. (iii.) Tuamotu, or Low Archipelago. —This archipelago comprises eighty-one islands or islets, extending over more than 300 leagues of longitude and 200 leagues of latitude. The islands are only wooded reefs. They are situated between 14° and 23° south latitude and 137° and 151° west longitude. The principal island, which is also the residence of the delegate of the French Government, is Anaa, situated in 17° 27' and 147° 50'. (iv.) Tubuai Archipelago. —There are four islands, of which only two are under the French protectorate, viz. Tubuai and Raivavae [Vivitao]. Rimatara and Rurutu are independent. (v.) Rapa Island. —This island is situated in 27° 38' south latitude and 146° 30' west longitude. It had formed part of the States of the Protectorate ever since 1844, and followed the destiny of those States when they were annexed to France in 1880. The island is not of much importance in a commercial point of view. Its population is 153 souls. (vi.) The Leeward Islands. —Adjacent to the Society group are the large islands Huahine, Raiatea, and Borabora, with a few smaller islets. Huahine is governed by a Chief, who is independent of the Chiefs of Raiatea and Borabora. Raiatea comprises two islands surrounded by the same reef, viz. Raiatea and Tahaa. This island, with 1,200 inhabitants, is governed by a king, and has the greatest trade of any of the Leeward Islands. Borabora has 600 inhabitants, and adjacent to it are Motuiti, Maupiti, Mapetia, and Tupemanu islets. The French flag has been flying on the island of Raiatea since 1880. The total population of the French establishments in Oceania is 25,247 souls, divided as follows: — Tahiti and. Moorea ... ... ... ... ... ... 10,808 Low Archipelago ... ... ... ... ... ... 7,270 Marquesas Archipelago ... ... .. ... ... .... 5,776 Tubuai Archipelago ... ... ... ... ... ... 693 Gambier Islets ... ... ... ... ... ... 547 Rapa Island ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 153 In the islands. of Tahiti and Moorea, there are 974 French and descendants of French, 591 foreigners, and 449 Asiatics. In the Marquesas, there are 71 French and 60 foreigners.