364 THE CORAL LANDS OF THE PACIFIC. 



independence of the Leeward Group should not be lost 

 sight of. 



The Windward Group includes Eimeo or Moorea, Maitea, 

 and Tahiti, which is centrally situated. The area of the group 

 may be set down at 650 square miles, and the population at 

 some 15,000 souls. 



The island of Tahiti itself has about 600 square miles, and 

 9745 inhabitants. It is very mountainous, and a series of 

 coast-ranges form a kind of amphitheatre around the central 

 peaks. The climate is delightfully healthy, vegetation of the 

 richest order flourishes in true tropical profusion. The romantic 

 valleys leading to the interior, with the noble outlines of Mount 

 Orohena 7340 feet high, are gems of Pacific scenery, and are 

 described in rapturous terms by those who have seen a little of 

 other groups outside the Society Islands. 



Civilisation of the ' spiritual ' order has done its fatal work 

 in Tahiti as in other parts of ' Coral Lands ;' and the natives 

 are not only steadily diminishing in numbers, but are by no 

 means such physical perfections as they are described by Cook 

 and early visitors to the group. As it is, they are fine speci- 

 mens of the brown-coloured or Sawaiori race of Polynesians, 

 with slightly protruding lips, beautiful teeth, black hair (gene- 

 rally curly), and a little beard. 



As the policy of the French Government has never been to 

 encourage the natives in habits of agricultural industry, by 

 showing them how to turn the resources of their land to 

 account, they do little else than grow sufficient for their daily 

 wants, so at present any organised attempt of capitalists to 

 colonise the rich lands of Tahiti would have to rely on Poly- 

 nesian or coolie labour, as was found necessary by the Messrs. 

 Stewart when they established their estate at Atimano, and 

 which is on the south side of the island. I have heard that 



