44^) TAHITI. 



It has two arms only, apparently homologous with the tentacular 

 arms of Decapod Cephalopoda. 



Besides these drawings Von Suhm left two closely written 

 volumes of zoological journal in German and one volume in 

 English. It is to be hoped that the German journal will be 

 published in due course. It cannot but contain much most 

 valuable matter. Besides this work Von Suhm constantly 

 kept during the voyage the tabular record of the results of the 

 deep-sea dredging in an official book which was called the 

 Station Book. 



Von Suhm had been, when a boy, an ardent collector of 

 birds, and some of his first publications were on European 

 birds. He took constant interest in birds during the voyage, 

 and his last excursion on shore was at Hilo, Hawaii, in pursuit 

 of the interesting endemic birds of the islands with a native 

 guide. Almost the last notes that he wrote were some on the 

 Sandwich Islands relating especially to the birds. 



I sat with him during the whole of the " Challenger " voyage, 

 working day after day with the microscope at the same table. 

 I am very greatly indebted to him for information in all 

 branches of zoology, and especially in the matter of zoological 

 literature, of which he had a most comprehensive knowledge. 

 I also learnt very much from him in the way of method, and 

 I feel that I shall always remain indebted to him for a decided 

 push on in my general scientific training. 



He was a most indefatigable worker. He was full of hope 

 for the future, and, no doubt, could he have published his 

 journal himself, would have established a reputation as a man 

 of science, which would have been far greater than that which 

 he most deservedly possessed at the time of his death. 



The harbour of Papeete in Tahiti was reached on September 

 i8th. 



The beauty of Tahiti, as seen from the sea, is not to be 

 overrated. It forms a most striking contrast to the barren- 

 looking Oahu. One of the first sights I saw on landing was a 

 party of Frenchmen starting off into the mountains to shoot 

 wild pigs. One of them was laden with long French loaves. 

 Another led a dejected-looking mongrel dog by a large rope 

 tied round its neck, and a third had his body encircled by the 

 usual huge horn, without the assistance of which a Frenchman 

 cannot go out shooting even partridges at home. I little 

 expected that so much of Parisian manners would not have 

 worn off at the distant Tahiti. 



The Tahitians appeared, as far as could be judged from so 

 short an acquaintance, to dislike their French rulers, and 

 seemed to like Englishmen all the more by contrast. Some 



