War Exiled Tahitians Are

Returning Home

AS passengers disembark from ships which call, from time to time, at Papeete, one becomes aware of the extraordinary number of Tahitian people who have been living in foreign lands.

Now they are returning from the far places of the earth to the “aia”—their native island.

Whatever changes in the manner of life in their homeland they may find, they accept philosophically. As one re patriated Tahitian said to this writer: “The mountains are still here; the sea has not altered its colour; our native food retains the flavour of which we have dreamed throughout the years of our exile.”

Tahitians residing in foreign countries are accustomed to converse about “uru” (breadfruit), “fe’i” (nlantain) “i’a ota” (raw fish)' and “miti haari” (coconut sauce) in the same manner that old fashioned United States citizens used to talk about buckwheat flapjacks, deep dish apple pie. turkey with cranberry sauce and real coffee with real cream when they were away from “God’s coun try.”

Modern Americans, both at home and abroad, get their nourishment out of tin cans, so it does not matter anymore where they are.

Some of these returned Tahitians have come for a sojourn with their relatives and old friends. Most of them, however, have returned to pass the remainder of their lives in the land of their ancestors.

A.C.R.

Mr. Dan Leahy, the well-nnown New Guinea explorer and goldminer, who gave meritorious service during the war with the NGVR, [returned to Australia re cently from the USA by the “Marine Phoenix.” He spent nearly a year in the States obtaining expert treatment for his eyes, which were injured during the New Guinea campaign. He visited the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and also the John Hopkins Eye Clinic in Bal timore. As a result, his eyesight is greatly improved and he speaks in eulo gistic terms of the treatment he received from the American clinics. He hopes to return to the Ramu District, New

Guinea, shortly.