Tahiti - Paradise on Earth, 1960c

for [Music] in this tortured materialistic world of ours breathes there a man heart so hardened that it has no room for a secret and cherished dream a dream of ineffable Beauty and Tranquility sun and seascapes Leisure and laughter and lissome lasses a far away place of paradise on earth a dream for some perhaps but a dream that can be converted to reality on the South Sea Isle of [Music] Tahiti midway between Australia and America lies a cluster of some hund islands and atoles called French Polynesia Tahiti the largest of the group known as the society islands has been the dream world destination of countless Travelers trents and colonizers since its Discovery in the 18th C [Music] Century Chief town and seat of the French Administration is papete a tropical Capital where tourists and townsmen alike may enjoy if they wish an internet National way of living in an exotic setting of extraordinary beauty half the population here is French while the rest consist mainly of the laughter-loving handsome brown skinned [Music] Polynesians live it up at a nightclub or idle away the hours on a beach suit your temperament and please your taste for Tahiti offers Variety in a soothing climate of safic [Music] warmth first British then French and later American missionaries left their stamp on Tahiti so that church going on Sunday is a pleasant ritual for many of the natives pleasant we say because it's suspected that a fondness browsing church music rather than intense religious Zeal motivates some of these recent converts to Christianity there is some doubt as to who actually discovered the islands comprising French Oceania whether it was the Spaniards in 1600 or the French or the British in the 1700s however the history of Tahiti is inextricably woven with the famous and Infamous names of such Daring Do characters as Captain Cook and later captain blle on this Pacific Oasis Captain blee and his Sailors sojourned for 5 months a peaceful interlude preceding the momentous Mutiny on the [Music] Bounty the Polynesians ply the clear waters of the Sou Pacific in tiny out rggg canoes which require of their Sailors an infinitely delicate sense of balance the waters here team with fish while the creeks and the ATL lagoons swarm with a variety of shellfish sea urchins and even octopus with some of the Islanders Pearl diving too is still a regular occupation [Music] for the Polynesians fishing for food is a necessity but with their amiable happy go-lucky temperament they transform a necessity into fun and good sport they never make hard work of anything [Music] for [Music] no need for a florist shop in toiti luscious blooms are here for the taking in or out of the water [Music] rod and real are reserved for non-native amateur the Polynesian lasses learn from childhood the art of scooping up slithering fish in their quick graceful fingers oceanians of Polynesian stock when pure are among the most handsome and exquisitly constructed specimens of man and woman kind in the [Music] world flirtatious funloving unhampered by a high-pressured sense of time fishing is momentarily forgotten when she spies a coconut and urges her mate to fetch it for [Music] them foree [Music] [Music] [Music] no one who has observed the ritual of firew walking has been able to determine whether it's a religious ceremony an extreme exercise and willpower or self- hypnotism the fact remains that firew walking is regularly practiced in the society islands and participants emerge from ordeal both physically and emotionally unharmed the soles of their feet showing no effect from the burning hot Stones if this be a case of Mind Over Matter then the Polynesians have a mystery to reveal to the modern devotes of the conditioned reflex School [Music] fish fruit and pork are the Staples of the tahan diet when the mood is upon on them a crowd gathers to prepare for a traditional Feast First Step catch those fish [Music] While most are busy fishing and some preparing the fire others are scooping out coconuts and squeezing the milk from the meat cpra or dried coconut incidentally is the main crop and Export product of the island [Music] fish and tropical fruits moistened with the coconut extract and wrapped in banana leaves are cooked to Sweet Perfection over hot coals while the pork is being prepared in a separate fire [Music] [Music] serving is simple toian Style just grab your portion of Banana Leaf wrapped goodies and the feast is on delicious eating and best of all for the women folk hardly any dishes to watch [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] easygoing as they are when it comes to dancing the south sea Islanders are as enthusiastically competitive As Americans are about their favorite sports all inhabitants of the society Islands concede that this group from Bora Bora near Tahiti are the champions of the all [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] trading Schooners which make the rounds of the south sea Islands welcome passengers of a romantic or adventurous Turn of Mind who seek to capture their secret dream of paradise on [Music] Earth and if you have found it here on the island of Tahiti when the moment comes for your Melancholy orir toss your lay upon the Crystal Waters for this is the traditional gesture of guarantee that you'll seek this paradise once more [Music]