For Sale—Then
p. 11 · Read in the full issue
Pomare's Bible
For Sale—Then Withdrawn
Prom Our Own Correspondent
Papeete, Dec. 10.
fIIHERE was a stir in Tahiti, in J. ber, when it was announced that Mademoiselle Alice Levy had pre sented Queen Pomare’s Bible to the Tahitian Committee, to sell to the best advantage, for the benefit of the Fight ing French War Fund.
British residents thought that the Bible should be bought for the British Museum; others suggested that it should go to that famous repository of South Seas literature, the Mitchell Library, in Sydney. It was reported also that the Bishop Museum, of Honolulu, would make a bid for the book. The sale was postponed so that the committee might communicate with these various institu tions.
It was announced at the end of Nov ember, however, that the priceless volume had been withdrawn from sale, and might eventuallv become the property of the Paneete Museum.
The history of the Pomare Bible—as told to me by Mr. Bolton—is very inter esting. When, after 22 years of labour, the Rev. Henry Nott completed his mas terly translation of the Bible into the Tahitian language, he took the manu script to England. The English Bible Society published this Tahitian version, at its own expense. The first copy off the nress was presented by the Society to Mr. Nott.
Before Mr. Nott denarted from Eng land, to return to Tahiti, he was granted an audience by Queen Victoria, at Buckingham Palace. Mr. Nott nresented his copy of the Tahitian Bible to the Oueen; and. later Queen Victoria sent the Bible to her sister Queen in the South Pacific —Pomare IV.
Queen Pomare wrote, on a flv-leaf of the book, the dates of the birth of her children.
We do not know how this Bible nassed out of the possession of the Pomare Royal Family of Tahiti.
Another Relic
That antediluvian relic, the Tipaerui Stone, continues to repose in the bed of an inland stream; much to the distress of our antiquarians. The owners of the property fear that its removal will stir up ancestral ghosts who will exact retri bution. Our mountains abound with treasure-trove of the past, carefully concealed for the same reason. Preda tory scientists long ago decapitated the golden goose, when they broke their pledge to behold, but to leave inviolate, all that might be disclosed for their inspection.