Some Common

Errors

In Tahitian History

By W. W. Bolton, M.A.

IT is ever hard to catch up with error, and silence it for good and all; but at least Truth should be given a chance.

As to Tahiti, there has been an aston ishing lack of accuracy in fundamental matters, which writer after writer glibly passes on as facts. In the hope that some stay may be brought about in this dissemination of flagrant errors, the writer would call attention to some of the chief ones prevalent to-day. To enu merate them all would be to strain at tention to the limit.

Error 1: That the present day “So ciety” Group was so named by Captain Cook.

When he arrived at Tahiti, after Wal lis, he knew from the Admiralty re cords that Tahiti and its adjoining is lands were already marked down as the Georgian Group. Neither Wallis nor he knew anything of another group within a hundred miles, but Cook was informed of the fact by a leading Raiatean na tive, named Tupaia, who was keen to return to his home, and offered to steer Cook if he would bear him back. Cook did so and, first of white men, saw the group of islands to the leeward of the Georgian, to which he gave the name “Society”, after the Royal Society, which had worked for his voyage to the great South Sea, to observe the transit of Venus. Both the “Command Papers pre sented to the British Parliament”, cover ing the disturbing years of 1822-1847, and the annual reports of the early mission aries to the L.M.S., deal with the Geor gian and the Society Groups as entirely different. How the Leeward name of 1769 absorbed —as it does to-day the Wind ward name of 1767 is another story, here irrelevant.

Error 2: That Pomare I. was the first King of Tahiti.

He tried for many of his later years to reach that height of his ambition, the Paramountcy. but failed. Papara District defied him, to his death. It cannot be too clearly pressed home that he founded no royal dynasty, but only a dynastic name. He was the first Pomare, that was all. It was his son. Pomare 11., who was the first king, and raised his house to Royalty. To the first white men, both sailormen and missionaries, it was incon ceivable that any land, even though an island, should be without its king, and they gave the rank and title to anyone who seemed to be of real importance.

This led to endless trouble, even savage warfare, by those who could not conceive of one chief being head and front of the rest.

Error 3: That Papeete was one of the villages of Tahiti from time immemorial.

Not one of the pioneers even mention it as existing. Cook saw it from beyond the barrier reef, and noted it down as Nanu. He dared not try the Pass, to en ter the roomy, placid lagoon; but, like Wallis and Bligh and Vancouver, had to be content with the Matavai roadstead.

The first missionaries walked through the site of the present town, but it was a series of family waterfront properties, without a name, save that its one feature was the great House of Assembly, “The Nanu”, which stood where now stands a pineapple canning factory. It was not till Pomare the Second’s day that it took shape, from a straggling line of natives’ homes to a place of settlement for white

folk. It dates From the first decade of 1800 or shortly after. Pomare 11. returned from exile to Arue in 1808 and writes from “Papeiti” in 1812.

Error 4; That Tahiti lies in “The South Seas’’ (plural).

The Pacific Ocean, save on its western coast line, is one, undivided whole, north and south of the Equator. Tahiti lies in “The South Sea” (singular). This term was first used by the Spaniards, then fix ed historically by “The South Sea Bub ble”, and used in all reports from whalers as a general term for their hunting ground. The use of the plural, so com mon to-day, save when occasionally the singular is forced into use in an adjec tival sense, is a careless, though undoubt edly poetic indifference to fact. To those of Europe who first gazed upon or sailed it, despite the broad Atlantic, the Pacific was its superior, “The Great South Sea”.

Geography has its rights, even though they be condemned, and to know the Truth is wholesome, even if unwelcome —as these notes may be to some who hate correction of what they have held as facts.

Error 5: That the Brander branch of the Royal Family holds the headship of the Pomare Family to-day.

If Pomare V. had not surrendered his sovereignty to France. Tamatoa Brand er would be Pcjnare VIII. to-day; his father, John Brander, would have been Pomare VII.; his grandmother, Vaetua, Pomare VI. But, having given up his crown, he adopted as his son and heir his nephew Hinoi, the princely son of his youngest brother, who was recognised as head, after his uncle’s death and throughout his life. He left two sons; his eldest. Prince Hinoi 11.. succeeding him. who, dying without issue, the head ship passed to his brother of to-day, Prince Ariipaea.

Error 6; That heraldic titles can be used indiscriminately without reference to its laws.

These are very strict, else what is high honour and special right would become a matter of small moment. In the Po mare Family, those only are entitled to bear the supreme insignia of worldly hon ours who come through the male line. One branch alone the Hinoi line —traces back throughout as a male, not a female one. Its present day head is as stated above; nor does Tahiti lack for princes and princesses with his numerous, charming and unassuming group of bairns around him. The Pomare surname and high titles will take long a-dying.