Tahiti

Tahiti (previously also known as Otaheite) is the largest island of the Windward group of the Society Islands in French Polynesia. It is located in the central part of the Pacific Ocean and the nearest major landmass is Australia. Divided into two parts, Tahiti Nui (bigger, northwestern part) and Tahiti Iti (smaller, southeastern part), the island was formed from volcanic activity; it is high and mountainous with surrounding coral reefs.

• It was one of those beautiful mornings which the poets of all nations have attempted to describe, when we saw the isle of O-Taheite, within two miles before us. The east-wind which had carried us so far, was entirely vanished, and a faint breeze only wafted a delicious perfume from the land, and curled the surface of the sea. The mountains, clothed with forests, rose majestic in various spiry forms, on which we already perceived the light of the rising sun: nearer to the eye a lower range of hills, easier of ascent, appeared, wooded like the former, and coloured with several pleasing hues of green, soberly mixed with autumnal browns. At their foot lay the plain, crowned with its fertile bread-fruit trees, over which rose innumerable palms, the princes of the grove. Here every thing seemed as yet asleep, the morning scarce dawned, and a peaceful shade still rested on the landscape. We discerned however, a number of houses among the trees, and many canoes hauled up along the sandy beaches. About half a mile from the shore a ledge of rocks level with the water, extended parallel to the land, on which the surf broke, leaving a smooth and secure harbour within. The sun beginning to illuminate the plain, its inhabitants arose, and enlivened the scene. Having perceived the large vessels on their coast, several of them hastened to the beach, launched their canoes, and paddled towards us, who were highly delighted in watching all their occupations.
  • Forster, Georg (1777). "Anchorage in O-Aitepeha Harbour, on the lesser Peninsula of O-Taheitee—Account of our Stay there—Removal to Matavai Bay". A voyage round the world. I. London: B. White, J. Robson, P. Elmsly, G. Robinson. pp. 253–254. 

• Tahiti is far famed yet too little known.
  • J. M. Orsmond (1848), quoted in: Douglas L. Oliver, Ancient Tahitian Society (1974)

James Wilson, A Missionary Voyage to the Southern Pacific Ocean (London: T. Chapman, 1799)

• This rahoo is laid on by the chiefs to repair the desolations their inordinate feastings make, and is always religiously observed by the people. It seems that the whole island of Eimeo was at this time under this injunction, but at Otaheite it is only imposed on a few districts at one time, during which none of the residents dare sell a pig, or kill one for their own use. However, they may take hogs from those districts that are free, and use them as they please.
  • Ch. VII, p. 83
  • Observation of a rāhui

• When I asked him [Pomare I] his reasons for not going to Matavai, he answered, that at present he could not possibly go, it being a very busy time with him, having to collect canoes, cloth, hogs, &c. to give away among the different chiefs and arreoies, who would attend him to the great feast at Papparā, which was to take place in a few days, and for which all the island was looking up to him. This excuse I had reason to believe, for public care seemed engraven on his countenance.
  • Ch. XIII, p. 198
  • Meeting with Pomare on Taiarapu, July 1797

• In the tattooing of men and women there is a small spot on the inside of each arm, just above the elbow, which is a mark of distinction, and shews that such a person may eat or touch his father's and mother's food, without rendering it rāa, or sacred; it is a sort of seal, that all the amо̄as have been performed. This is generally received when the head is made free, which is the last amо̄a, except that of friendship and marriage. The man who does the tattooing to young or old, is called at the pleasure of the parties, and no constraint is ever used. The young persons will not suffer him to leave off while they can endure the stroke of the instrument, though they make cries and lamentations as if he was killing them. The girls are always attended by some female relations, who hold them while struggling under the pain of the operation, encouraging them to cry out, which they think helps to alleviate the anguish. When the pain becomes excessive, and they say they can endure no more, they use no compulsion. No person ever lifts his hand to strike a child: on the contrary, the young girls under the operation will often strike those who compassionate them, and wish them to suspend the operation, as they are never esteemed women till the whole is finished: this sometimes lasts for a year, or more, by intervals, from the commencement of the tattooing.
  • Appendix, § III
  • Otaheitian tattoos

• Encyclopedic article on Tahiti on Wikipedia
• Media related to Tahiti on Wikimedia Commons
• Tahiti travel guide from Wikivoyage