Ex-Queen Of

Tahiti

Death of Pomare V.’s Divorced Wife

From Our Own Correspondent.

Papeete, Feb. 13.

February 2 the titular ex-Queen of Tahiti, Joanna Marautaaroa Salmon, died, aged 74, in Papeete Hospital, after a grave operation. As befitted her im portant position in local society, she was accorded an impressive funeral, at which the French Administration was fully rep resented, and to which delegations from all the districts of Tahiti and Moorea were in attendance. Her passing represents the severance of a very interesting link be tween present day conditions and Tahiti of olden days.

Madame Marautaaroa Salmon was the daughter of an Englishman named Alex ander Salmon, who married Ariitaimai, the daughter of Tati, chief of Papara district, by whom he had eight children. Ariitaimai, though not of Royal blood, was of good lineage, and had been brought up by the same foster-mother who reared Queen Pomare IV., who reigned from 1827 to 1877. In consequence of this association a deep affection existed between Pomare IV. and her foster-sister Ariitaimai, which later came to fruition in the marriage of the Queen’s son (afterwards Pomare V.) and Marautaaroa Salmon. This marriage, which was consummated shortly before the death of Queen Pomare IV., was neither happy or fruitful.

Not long after his accession to the throne of Tahiti in 1877, Pomare V. di vorced Marautaaroa, who thereupon re sumed her maiden name of Salmon. King Pomare V. never re-married and died without issue in 1891. He it was who ceded Tahiti and its dependencies to France in 1880, and who was, therefore, the last reigning King of Tahiti. Marau taaroa Salmon, however, was recognised by the French Government as the ex- Queen of Tahiti, and was granted a pen sion up to the time of her decease.

Of stately presence, finished education, and strong personality, the titular ex- Queen maintained the dignity of her as sumed rank, especially in the eyes of foreign visitors, and of those local resi dents not familiar with the history and genealogy of the Tahitian Royal family- The majority of the natives, however, un yielding in their allegiance to the legiti mate inheritors of the blood Royal, ac cepted Madame Marautaaroa with re serve.

The present head of the Royal Pomare family is the younger brother of Pomare V., Ariipaea Pomare, the last surviving son of Prince Hinoi (deceased in 1916), who was the eldest son of Teriitua (called by the French, Joinville). There are eight adult princes and princesses to day of the blood Royal in Tahiti, six of whom are the direct descendants of Ta matoa, through his daughters Teriivaetua and Teriinavahorua. The other two are Ariipaea Pomare and his sister Tetuanui, grandchildren of Teriitua (Joinville). Ta matoa and Teriitua are the only children of Queen Pomare IV., who left legitimate issue.

Rev. and Mrs. H. Johnstone returned to Suva by the Mariposa on March 6, for work at the Methodist Mission at Nad roga, Fiji.