I.—Descriptive and Historical.

This group, consisting of nine or ten islands, of various sizes, but all of great beauty, is placed between 16° 11′ and 17° 53′ South latitude, and 148° 5′ and 152° 12′ West longitude. The discovery of these islands is credited to Captain Wallis, of the English war vessel Dolphin, who sighted them in 1767; but there is reason to believe that Tahiti was seen a hundred years previously by Pedro Fernandez de Quiros, a Spanish navigator, who did not, however, land. The English discoverer sent ashore Lieut. Furneaux, who erected a British pendant on Tahiti, and formally took possession of the island in the name of King George III. In 1768, or a year after the British discovery, Tahiti was visited by the French traveller, De Bougainville; and after the lapse of another year the great Captain (then lieutenant) Cook visited the island for the purpose of observing the transit of Venus. For twenty or thirty years Tahiti continued to be so visited at intervals—being brought prominently into notice by the escape thither of fourteen of the Bounty mutineers and their capture there in 1791. The first missionaries of the London Missionary Society arrived in 1797; two Roman Catholic missionaries, who preceded them by about twenty years, having in the interval relinquished their labours and returned to Europe. A French Protectorate was established over Tahiti in 1844, and this has by degrees been extended to other islands of the group, as well as to the Tuamotu Islands, seventy-eight in number, which lie to the eastward, and cover an area of 3,300 square miles. The latest act of aggression has been the hoisting of the French Protectorate flag on Raiatea, one of the Society Islands, the neutrality of which is specially secured by an Anglo-French treaty. This action has formed the subject of a good deal of diplomatic correspondence between the two countries, and the French justify their action by pleading that the flag has been page 37 hoisted by the Raiateans themselves, who desire annexation to France. It is believed at Tahiti that England will ultimately allow France to possess Raiatea—the French Government, as a quid pro quo, relinquishing their Newfoundland fishery rights.

Of the Society Islands, Raiatea is second in importance only to Tahiti, being forty miles in circumference. The other principal islands are Huaheine, twenty miles in circumference; Moorea, which is separated from Tahiti by a channel nine or ten miles wide; Taha and Bora Bora, each of which is about half the size of Raiatea.

The French colonial form of government is established in Tahiti, and is maintained by a garrison of some three hundred soldiers and gendarmes. The administration is analogous to that of a British Crown Colony, there being no popular representation even in the municipal government of the town of Papeete. A native monarchy, not unlike that of "King" Tawhiao in New-Zealand, also exists; but though it has the recognition and support of the French authorities, it is not, m its present representative, so respectable, nor among the natives so much respected, as our Maori monarch is. King Pomare V., otherwise Ariiaue, son of the illustrious Queen Pomare, is no credit to his ancestral line, and it is no matter of regret to learn that at his accession the French so adroitly arranged matters that he will be the last of the native sovereigns of Tahiti. A very handsome stone palace is provided for King Pomare at Papeete, but he never inhabits it. Adjoining are the private and official apartments of the Governor, with beautifully laid-out grounds. Papeete is a town of some two thousand inhabitants, and is well and substantially built, the business portion of stone and brick, and the residential portion of timber. It extends for three miles along the bay, and there are many side and intersecting streets. There is an arsenal and coaling station at one end of the bay, and at the other extremity is a battery of seven large guns, with tons of shot, etc., in readiness for use. Behind this battery the prison is situated. The other public buildings embrace a handsome Roman Catholic cathedra!, fine Court buildings, Government buildings and offices, barracks, market-place, etc. The streets are well kept, and there is a splendid and copious water supply laid on. Some of the streets are wide and noble avenues, over-arched by the boughs of giant trees, but the majority are narrow lanes. Religion and education are both subsidised by Government. Education is free and compulsory, and is controlled by a Committee of Education.

The following nations have consular representatives at Tahiti :—

England	(Consul (Mr. Miller, sen.)
England	Vice-Consul (Mr. Miller, jun)
United States	Consul (Mr. Atwater)
United States	Vice-Consul (Mr. J. J. Youngpage 38
Germany	Consul (Mr. Meuel)
Italy	Consular Agent (M. Bonet)
Denmark	Consul (Mr. Smidt)
Sweden and Norway	Consul (Mr. Jorss)
Chili	Consul (M. Goupil)
Hawaii	Consul (Mr. Sumner)

A native police force is maintained in addition to the French gendarmerie, so that there is the utmost security to life and property against lawlessness, while hurricanes and earthquakes are alike unknown.