NARRATIVE OF THE CRUISE 



235 



Cook or La Perouse, although true Polynesian hospitality has 

 survived. As in other islands, we found that the women, not the 

 men, are the chief smokers. The girls are as much at home 

 fishing for octopus under the waters of the reef, as they are on a 

 dance-floor. The ukulele (literally, "jumping-fiea") is part of the 

 household equipment. This little instrument now found the 

 world over is said to have been invented by a Harvard student, 

 and first introduced in Hawaii. If so, it may be classed as one 



SouLE, Jones, Scott, and Torreson Visit the "Transit-of- Venus Monument" near 



Papeete 



The famous navigator, James Cook, was commissioned to observe the transit of Venus 

 at Tahiti in 1769. 



of the most important contributions of the white man to the 

 Polynesian peoples. 



The days in Papeete were by no means lazy ones for us. Cap- 

 tain Ault used the diving-helmet to inspect the hull of the vessel 

 and to repair the torn sheathing. Paul was engaged in arranging 

 hospital treatment and transportation for Henricksen, a seaman 

 whose health had been failing for several weeks. Others of the 

 staff took a hand in the stowing of provisions which had been 



