Kings and Princes in Tahiti Who Have

Tahiti Who Have The Right to Name and Titles?

Letter to the Editor WHEN reading the August issue of your excellent journal we found on page 34 a letter of most extraord inary character, addressed to the Editor and signed by Tamatoa Brander Pomare and Pomateao Salmon Pomare.

We presume these signatures represent Monsieur Tamatoa Brander and Madame Pomateao Salmon Stevenson (nee Sal mon).

Knowing these charming young peo ple as we do, we do not believe either of them wrote the letter to which the above signatures are attached. Under no circumstances could we imagine them departing so far from the canons of good taste and good breeding as to have written the last two paragraphs of that letter.

Whoever did write it exhibits an amazing ignorance of heraldry, French law, Tahitian custom and the facts.

The surname Pomare is legitimately borne by but two people of that gener ation: Princess Teriinui-o-Tahiti, the daughter of the late King Pomare V., and Prince Ariipaea. the only surviving son of Prince Teriihinoiatua —the nephew and adopted son of King Pomare V.

Princess Teriinui-o-Tahiti is unmar ried.

Prince Ariipaea Pomare has a large family of sons and daughters, who in herit the name Pomare, and through them alone the name Pomare will be perpetuated.

Madame Pomateao Salmon Stevenson is given the title of Princess by courtesy only.

Monsieur Tamatoa Brander has never claimed nor ever received the title of Prince.

The writer of the letter is trying to bring again to lifp a lost cause, which had better be left decently buried with the individuals who initiated and car ried it on during nearly fifty years.

Mr. Bolton’s essay on the Pomare family, in the April "P.1.M.”, is sustain ed by the records and the facts. It is accurate in every particular.

I am, etc.,

Veritas.

Tahiti, 9/10/1938.