Show Or ivino capute Pa tahiti society islands sl ands marca 2 1328 1928 Tok apolo editor or of the roosvelt standard no doubt you will be on receiving C eving a letter from me so 90 far car awa away but thought I 1 would ifould take this opportunity to you A few lines it is with great interest that I 1 lead the roosevelt standard which I 1 nevieve at intervals of two to three months as we have to depend on oil small sail ships for our transportation in this r ifju ailt t of the globe which usually m maka ka it a long long time between ingails nii s it is indeed a happy day when that said day mail day comes around and we hear the natives call out tero which means a ship has haa been sighted we then trip hown to the waters front anxiously waiting for the row bolt boit to come ashore to find out if is a letter or two on board from our friends and loved ones at home the folks usually see that is a standard or two alonz along each mail and I 1 usually look lok for waid to reading the news of tile the standard as it has become more morel like a little friend and indeed seems somewhat like a visit back tr to that tar far fax far away land which we call back home in our good old U S A there are no DO doubt many that will be elal to hear a word or tw jwj boroi ion chii ill sea isles let us dwell awhile avith th clr native of the group of the low carol raef island As he appears to us lie he Is as a rule a heavy set bloard framed fellow standing from five ana a half to six fiet f et high he has a deiy thick lead head of coal black bushy hair ilis his everyday wearing apparel consists usually of a red or blue lareu pa reu a ol of cloth which elides cliches the waist and now and then an under the native natine women vo N ave ili hi hat out ica c tile t ie coco cocoanut anut leaf or the lat at ot of the tima lima tree this leaf biow to be from four to five feet feel lorg and about two inches wide luy illy also weave their etc arcin this leaf lie ile wears no shoes and through many hard days or years of walking the skin on the bottom of th ill foot has grown to a thickness 0 of about halt half an inch J our native is not a sort of fellow as many suppose lie he la as tri Iri endly jolly and harmless a fellow as I 1 have ever met and lie he usually has a smile on its his face in ii i i rain or sunshine its his home land is 0 of alc tlc coral type from one to fifteen feet aboe the waters these islands are bic not t 0 tie mountain type the adith 10 in fr 11 a one to two blocks wide and t i alo ciscle ceicle shape from 20 to it 30 astound leaving a large lagoon e inside where the land ia 13 high enough above the water it Is 13 coerr d with a heavy ami glowth ch of pilm and cocoanut coco anut trees which aich aro are the only kind of a tree arc besides the tima and weeds that will grow etow on these islands they have no fruit of any kind I 1 ills ilia home is built out of the leaf of the cocoanut coco anut tree which are woven together and when finished moally makes quite an little home from one to two days Is all it takes tor for a couple to build a house we elders even get a little experience along that line tb weaving is tile the hardest part parta the home iome of our native is not palace and he docs doc do s not enjoy the luxuries of a well served meal but bill lie he seems to be happy and contented with what ahat lie ae has ile hy boes 01 ol 01 enjoy the comfort of a soft foft bed at night but instead lays a coci anut leaf cat on tile lac ground which takes its place his fish and bread are usually cooked OTI on lot hot rocks and BOTI times is a very delicious nial meal As we see tile glossy bark of fh clr native between the hours of five and six as he proudly strolls alon alil the sea shore in the early morning sunlight wita fish spear in hand going out to bring IT in the days supply of fish we have to to step and rid ponder a moment we wonder what it la 13 about this person that sc ams to how hom our interest what are his hia habits and flays or of living and how bow does lie h spend the hours of the day As we study the native we want to iu know more about him and his peculiar dwellings and habits where ile migrated from and who were his ancestors the native does docs not edjon lh lb thrill of an automobile ride anil vr ta but few have seen a picture show did you say Cliris christmas tinis christmas Is just an ordin ordinary ory day clay hr i in these parts these little boyi boy i and girls have never had a visit from santa claus and they hardly know what a stick slick of cany candy is indeed we that live tn in the lovely land of america are blessed do we appreciate it I 1 have just taken a jump heie and of there hoping this letter fier 0 all well and happy and enjoying lile life in ili our blessed land anve v elders eiders or of the south yi st i society island are all well arid and happy and ale aie enjoying our work anions amons the natives and we teel feel III like e the blessings of the lord have been with us with best wishes to im yours truly ELDER CLAIR C LAUSEN LARSEN |