The countries of the world : being a popular description of the various continents, islands, rivers, seas, and peoples of the globe . MATAVAI BAT, TAHITI. adopted by the other principalities. The French, after their usurpation of a protectorateover Tahiti, seized the island of Huaheine, but they were soon forcibly expelled by thenatives, who in 184-7 received the assurance of the English Government that theirindependence, and that of the other islands of the Leeward group, would be protected,in consequence of a guarantee entered into with the French Government. The people areall Christians. Ge
The countries of the world : being a popular description of the various continents, islands, rivers, seas, and peoples of the globe . MATAVAI BAT, TAHITI. adopted by the other principalities. The French, after their usurpation of a protectorateover Tahiti, seized the island of Huaheine, but they were soon forcibly expelled by thenatives, who in 184-7 received the assurance of the English Government that theirindependence, and that of the other islands of the Leeward group, would be protected,in consequence of a guarantee entered into with the French Government. The people areall Christians. Geougian, Windwaud, or Tahitian Islands. These are five in number—Tahiti, Tapamanoa, Eimeo, Titouaroa, and Maltea, in additionto the usual cluster of little islets which dot the Polynesian Archipelagos. Tahiti, orOtaheitc, is the chief of the group. It has an area of 430 square miles, and a population. YOUXG MEN OF TAHITI. 70 THE COrXTKIES OF TUE WOKLD. of 7,000, including that of Papeite, the capital, a pleasant little town of mingled Frenchand Polynesian character. The interior of the island (p. ri) is ver}- mountainous, the highestpeak attaining an elevation of 11,500 feet, but along the coast there is a rich level tract,cultivated by the natives and the European planters who have settled on the island (p. G8).The scenery is very fine—high precipitous hills, alternating with lovely valleys, and lakesembosomed amid tropical vegetation, the whole country rejoicing in a climate perfectlyhealthy and more enjoyable even to Europeans than that of most of the other Polynesianislands. It is Tahiti which Byron calls— Thu happy shores without ;i l;i\v. ?\Vhore all pai-tafcc the cai-tli without dispute, And bread itself is gatherd as a fruit; Where none contest the fields, the woods, the streams. The godless age, when gold disturbs no dreams, Inhabits or inhabited the shore. Till Euro
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