"My Tahiti"

Book By Robert Dean Frisbie

WHENEVER anew book about our Islands is placed in our hands, we open the covers wearily but hope fully.

Wearily, because of our memories of the romantic twaddle, the manufactur ed adventures and the nauseating stor ies of waterfront hetaira which make up the substance of the average travel ler’s book. Hopefully, because we are of a cheerful, optimistic order of mind, and hold the belief that over the next hill dwells a writer who will some day compose a book which will give the world a true conception of our Island life.

It was, therefore, with surprise and pleasure, that we perused the latest pub lication about our Island, “My Tahiti”, by Robert Dean Frisbie. This book pic tures accurately the life of the period —lB years ago—in the districts of Ta hiti.

The reviewer, in company with three or four companions, went frequently, in those times, to pass a delightful day with a friend whose home was within half a kilometre of Mr. Frisfre’s house on the shore of Vaiari. Tne house in which he dwelt, the men and women who were his friends, and the life they lived in common, are truly described by Mr. Frisbie.

The illustrations by Mr. W. Alister Macdonald are a delight. All the moun tains and valleys and beaches are in their right places, and the ensembles are as truly pictures of Tahiti as are the exquisite colours of the Island by that incomparable artist.

In common with all reviewers, we are constrained to temper our praise with a little criticism. Mr. Frisbie’s Tahitian is a bit shaky; but that is a small mat ter. Very few Europeans, indeed, are able to master the idioms of Polynesian dialects. Our serious criticism is direct ed at his chapter on the Reverend “Pierre”.

We are sorry that Mr. Frisbie has given his ear to detractors who are ene mies of the mission. He has done him self and his book a disservice by record ing gossip which has no basis in fact.

The reviewer was honoured with the in timate friendship of Monsieur “Pierre” during many years and, although no church member, was privileged to be his companion on many an expedition.

Mr. Frisbie should have remember that ancient Arabic saying: “The dogs bark; but the caravan moves on”.

Apart from this blemish, “My Tahiti” is a delightful book, and we recommend it to those who would know the charm of life in these Islands—as it existed

twenty years ago.-

A.C.R.