TAHITI. 37 



foreign commerce of Tahiti. The vessel was a small schooner, and 

 the building of it was superintended by a Yankee. The timber em- 

 ployed was that called by the natives rnape (niocarpus edulis), which 

 is said to be of excellent quality. The supply of this wood is, 

 however, limited. The poorou (Hibiscus tiliaceus), is also employed 

 in ship-building, but it can only be procured of small size, and is 

 therefore unfit for the structure of many parts of a vessel. 



Several vessels of about one hundred and thirty tons burden have 

 already been built upon the island. These have been employed in 

 the trade to New South Wales, whither they carry sugar, cocoa-nut 

 oil, and arrow-root, and whence they bring back in return hardware, 

 cloths, calicoes, &c. In the ports of New South Wales they pay the 

 same duties and charges as British bottoms. 



The commercial resources of these islands are very limited ; most 

 of the vessels that visit Tahiti are those belonging to our whaling 

 fleet : these average less than a hundred annually. From them the 

 natives are enabled to dispose of some of the supplies they raise, and 

 in return obtain such articles as will promote their comfort and add 

 to their pleasure. The whale-ships, for the most part, have articles 

 of trade which they barter with the natives, so that little money is 

 required to carry on their business. The natives, particularly the 

 chiefs, are however well acquainted with the value of money. An 

 estimate has been made that each of these vessels introduces goods 

 into the islands to the amount of $500 each, making a total amount 

 of $50,000; but I very much question whether it can reach this 

 extent ; and if this amount be sold, it must include the profits ; half 

 the sum, I should think, was a large estimate. 



The few other vessels that visit the islands bring little cargo : if 

 two arrive at the same time, they destroy each other's ventures by 

 glutting the markets. 



The pearl-shell fishery of the Paumotu Group centres here. I 

 was told it was principally in the hands of the French consul. For 

 a few years before our arrival, viz., from 1832 to '38, it had been very 

 productive. The amount obtained was about nine hundred tons, 

 which was estimated to be valued at $45,000 to $50,000; the greater 

 part of this was sent to France. Of the agricultural products they 

 have little to dispose of as yet ; neither is the island susceptible of 

 any very extended operations, to induce vessels to visit it exclusively 

 for its trade or productions. The three chief articles of production 



VOL. II. 10 



