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A LADY'S CRUISE

IN A FRENCH MAN-OF-WAR.

CHAPTER XIII.

THE ROYAL PROGRESS ROUND TAHITI LIFE DAY BY DAY HIMÈNES

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A BEAUTIFUL SHORE

MANUFACTURE OF ARROW

FORT OF

ROOT FLOWERS-A DESERTED COTTON PLANTATION-TAHITIAN
DANCING THE AREOIS VANILLA PLANTATIONS
TARAVAO.

PAEA, TAHITI, Monday, Oct. 15, 1877.

DEAREST NELL,-We have had a long and most interesting day, and I am pretty well tired out. Still I must begin a journal letter to-night, as we start again at daybreak, and I am sure you will wish for a detailed account of our trip.

This morning at 8 A.M. we started on the grand tour de l'île. All the luggage of the party had been sent on ahead in heavy fourgons, as had also the band of the Magicienne, consisting of twenty

VOL. II.

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sailors, in a couple of char à bancs. Tahitian outriders, carrying the flag of the district, preceded Ariiaue, now King Pomare V., who led our procession, in a high dog-cart, accompanied by his brother Tamatoa, and his little nephew Hinoi, son of the late Prince Joinville. Then followed Admiral Serre, M. Hardouin, the A.D.C., and myself, in a comfortable open carriage, and capital horses. Queen Marau came next, with her lovely little sister Manihinihi, and Moe's child, Terii - Mae - Vaetua, who is next in the succession. Sundry and divers vehicles followed, containing about twenty French officers, Mr Barff as interpreter, and Joseph Miller.

The weather was perfect-not too hot; a brisk trade-wind brought the sea roaring and tumbling in heavy breakers on the coral-reef, about a mile from the shore, where our road skirted the calm lagoon, so blue and peaceful and still. We drove through districts which seemed like one vast orchard of mango, bread-fruit, banana, faes, large orangetrees, lemons, guavas, citrons, papawas, vanilla, coffee, sugar cane, maize, and cocoa - palm, gether forming a succession of the very richest foliage it is possible to conceive. Sometimes we amused ourselves by counting such few trees as are not fruit-bearing. Here and there the broad grass roads are edged with avenues of tall plantains; very handsome in a dead calm, but too delicate to endure

to

MILDEWED PAPER.

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the rough wooing of these riotous trade-winds, which tear the huge leaves to ribbons, so that the avenues are apt to have a disjasket look.

Even the commonest crops are attractive,—the Indian corn and the sugar, each growing to a height of eight or ten feet, with long leaves like gigantic grass, and pendent tassels of delicate pink silk.

We halted at various points, where deputations had assembled to welcome the king, and about eleven o'clock reached Punavia, -a lovely spot on the sea-shore, at the mouth of a beautiful valley, above which towers Le Diadème (that same crownshaped mountain which I told you is so grand as seen from Fautawa valley).

Of course I had not failed to bring my large sketching-blocks; and, thanks to the kindness of Mr Green, I had been able to replace my mildewed paper by a store of French paper, sold by the Government offices at Papeete as unfit for use; but to me, after long experience of Fijian mildew, it proved an unspeakable prize. M. Fayzeau, himself a graceful artist, helped me quickly to select the very best spot for a sketch, from near a ruined French fort on the shore. Two small forts further up the valley recalled the days when Tahiti made her brave but unavailing struggle for independence.

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Ere long we were summoned to breakfast,—a native feast in a native house, which was decorated

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