CHAPTER IV 



TAHITI AND THE SOCIETY ISLANDS 



Seen from the sea, the stretch of coast off 

 which the vessels had just anchored presented 

 an entrancing spectacle, with its soft hills, at the 

 feet of which lay spread a smiling and fertile 

 plain, and with a long narrow valley covered 

 with plantations and graceful huts surrounded 

 by scented shrubs. The slim palms, with their 

 wide branches; the tall coconuts, which carried 

 at their summits, besides their marvellous fruit, 

 parrakeets with sapphire plumage; rich banana 

 trees, in which rested green kingfishers and 

 white doves, gardenias and guettardas — both 

 trees and flowers flourished luxuriantly under 

 the clear blue of a perfect sky. Officers and 

 men, scientists and servants, all were on deck, 

 and, united in their admiration, silently contem- 

 plated the natural splendour of the enchanted 

 island. 



The vessels were soon overrun with natives, 

 who brought coconuts, bananas, potatoes, yams 

 and other provisions which were exchanged for 

 nails and necklace beads. Several Tahitians 

 who represented themselves as being chiefs re- 

 ceived shirts and hatchets, for which they prom- 



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