vi I A ORA NA! 



Seas," and will be followed by "Atolls of the Sun," 

 which will be the account of a visit to, and a dwelling on, 

 the blazing coral wreaths of the Dangerous Archipelago, 

 where the strange is commonplace, and the marvel is the 

 probability of the hour. 



These three volumes will cover the period I spent dur- 

 ing three journeys with the remnants of the most amaz- 

 ing of uncivilized races, whose discovery startled the old 

 world, and whom another generation will cease to know. 



TiRARA ! 



Maru-tane. 

 Kaoha, 

 Sausalito, California. 



In this book the reader may be tempted to stumble over some 

 foreign words. I have put them in only when necessary, to give 

 the color and rhythm of Tahiti. The Tahitian words are very 

 easily pronounced and they are music in the mouth of any one who 

 sounds them properly. Every letter and syllable is pronounced 

 plainly. The letters have the Latin value and if one will remember 

 this in reading, the Tahitian words will flow mellifluously. For 

 instance, " tane " is pronounced" tah-nay," " maru "is pronounced 

 " mah-ru." " Tiare " is " tee-ah-ray. " The Tahitian language is 

 dying fast, as are the Tahitians. Its beauties are worth the few 

 efforts necessary for the reader to scan them. 



Frederick O'Brien. 



