78 A GLIMPSE OF SAMOA. 



arms and intoxicating liquors. In spite of all 

 this, in 1892 there began a civil war, which was 

 only terminated by the intervention of German, 

 British and American war vessels. 



Up and down went the Swift after leaving 

 Samoa, calling at this port for a little stay, 

 putting in at that harbor for a day's replenishing 

 and refreshment, and by-and-by the anchor was 

 made ready to throw in the harbor of that land 

 which poets have sung and sailors have loved 

 through many and many a year ; the loveliest 

 and most welcome of all the islands of the 

 sleeping southern sea, — Otaheite. 



Leaving these islands and after cruising for 

 several months, looking from the masthead, with 

 not less than four men on the top gallant cross- 

 trees, from daylight to dark, and finding the 

 sperm whales not plenty, we put away for the 

 Society Islands. After a pleasant passage, we 

 had the most beautiful island of all the Pacific 

 in sight, and with Kanaka Jim Crook Toe as pilot 

 through the Towenor passage we passed inside 

 the reefs. With a spanking breeze we run down, 

 with coral reefs on either side of the ship, for 

 three or four miles to one of the finest harbors in 

 the world, — Papiete, in the island of Tahiti, — 

 where we found six or eight American whalers, 



