KNOWLEDGE OF HISTORY LACKING

Te Ao Hou, July 1956, Page 31

KNOWLEDGE OF HISTORY LACKING After spending a week here, I moved on to Pura ania, where I again rented a little ni-au whare which was right down near the sea. I spent a week here also, then went back to Papeete where I had to call on a few people before leaving for New Zealand. Among the many people I met, both young and old, I failed to find a person who knew much about the history or genealogies of Tahiti. I was told that there were possibly one or two old folk that would know something of the history in Tahiti, but if I went out to the other islands such as the Tua Motu group I would find people there versed in history. Unfortunately time was short for me, so I will leave that part of my business for another time. In my studies I also found that the language spoken in Tahiti today is not true Tahitian or parau tumu as it is called. The arrival of European settlers and missionaries with their laws, customs and beliefs, changed everything. Nevertheless this is Tahiti, or better known to the elder folk as, Tahiti nui i te vai uri rau te rau te oto o te Manu, meaning Great Tahiti of many waters and many coloured birds. On Friday, 9th September, I said farewell to Tahiti. As our boat pulled away from the wharf. I could hear the cries of “bon voyage,” and from my friends came their Tahitian farewell, “Parahi oe e raei,” and from the depths of my heart I answered, “Parahi ra-a to-u hare rahi ia outau e hoa ma” (farewell my love to you all my friends). As the flying boat circled above Papeete I took my last look until next time, at this island of Tahiti, Mother island of French Oceania. Partly based on European church singing, but still very Polynesian in character is the weird beauty of the Tahitian ‘himene’. The leader closes her eyes and buries her head in her hands. Suddenly she breaks into a clear-cut phrase to which the others reply in a close-knit harmony. The music has a fast and vigorous rhythm. As the women chant, the men on the outside clap their knees and sway side to side, singing deep short notes which give an effective ground work for the tune. The Tahitian spear is about ten feet long and the greatest agility is needed to wield it. A fishing net is drying in the foreground.