OF THE SOUTH SEAS 333 



whom chiefly rank still bore significance. The Tatis 

 had been chiefs of Papara for generations, and had en- 

 tertained Captain Cook. 



He lived in a bungalow near the beach, handsome, 

 spreading, and with a mixed European and indigenous 

 arrangement and furnishing that was very attractive. 

 I met his sons and daughters, and had luncheon with 

 them. Tati, of course, spoke English fluently, yet with 

 the soft intonation of the Tahitian. Some of the dishes 

 and knives and forks had belonged to Robert Louis 

 Stevenson, who, said Tati, had given them to him when 

 he was departing from Tahiti. Tati's sister, a widow, 

 was of the part}% and together we went to the Protestant 

 churchyard to her husband's tomb. It was imposing 

 and costly, and the inscription read : 



In Memory of Dorence Atwater, beloved husband of arii 

 inoore Moetia Salmon. Born at Terryville, Conn., Feb. 3, 

 1845. Died at San Francisco, Cal., November 28, 1910. As 

 a last tribute to his name there was erected in his native state 

 a monument with this inscription: 



This memorial is dedicated to our fellow townsman, Dorence 

 Atwater, for his patriotism in preserving to this nation the 

 names of 13,000 soldiers who died while prisoners at Anderson- 

 ville, Ga. 



He builded better than he knew ; some day, perchance, in sur- 

 prise he may wake to learn : 



He builded a monument more enduring than brass. 



Tupuataroa. 



The name given Atwater when he married Moetia 

 Salmon was Tupuataroa, which means a wise man. 

 Mrs. Atwater was rich and melancholy. She mom-ned 

 her dead. Atwater had come to Tahiti as American 

 consul, and had piled franc on franc in trade and specu- 



