R.M.S. Tahiti
At Sea Still 3rd Sept 1924
My dear Mother,
We will be in San Francisco in two days now (Friday 10am) so that is good news as we are both a bit tired of the boat and looking forward to a day or two at least on dry land. It is now nine days since we saw the last palm tree of the wonderful South Seas Islands.
To retrace our steps a little. I think the last time I wrote was a day out from Rarotonga and it was posted there to catch the boat back in about 2 days so I will carry on from there and tell you a few of the things that have happened since.
We first sighted Cook Islands about midday and anchored off the reef at about 2pm as there is no harbor there and all copra and fruit comes off the island in surf boats and these land passengers on the return trip. It is a thrilling ride as the surf is always fair and a big swell runs. We had a safe trip and then had our first taste of island life. Rarotonga is only small but very pretty and abounds with nigs who all play Ukulele or guitars all day long even returning from work on the plantations. They are a very happy crowd and there seems to be no discontent among them. The population of the island is distributed amongst 4 villages none of any size so we took a car and toured the island going right around the island in under 1 hr and a half 20 miles so you can imagine it is not very large. On our return we looked around the villages and it was then time to return to the ship as we sailed again at 6.30pm that night on another 3 day stretch to Papeete on the island of Tahiti and this place I am sure must be wonder island of the Pacific.
We picked up the island about midday and sailed through the Straits with Tahiti through the shadow of its mountains on one side of us and the lofty needle like pinnacles of the Morea on the other. The coral reef encircles these islands also but Tahiti has a break in the coral 40 yards wide which forms a natural harbor for the ships and through this we sailed and berthed along side the wharf right in the town. Coming in to Papeete was the prettiest sight I have yet seen. The water was a rich colour blue, the houses beyond with red tiled roofs and behind the great mountains covered with coconut palms and tropical vegetation of all description and then the great ravines and gorges between the mountains was sufficient alone to turn a perfectly normal suburbanite like myself into a bushman right away to explore this wonderful island.
I will have to wait until my return to tell you about all the things we saw and did there as it was great. Why the best champagne there is only 5/- per large bottle but one is hit well to leg for other things. We spent the afternoon firstly in the glass bottomed boat out on the coral reef to see the wonders of the deep and then we explored the town. At night we went to the pictures and the fight and had a great time as everything was in French except the fight. That was Aussie from start to finish, (in the sixth round) when the nig had had enough and so lay down and took the count then got up and retired smiling to the crowd. We slept on board and next morning took a car and went to Venus Point where Cook landed to observe the transit of Venus. It was a great drive full of interest as we crossed gorges and mountains in profusion and finally came back to the sea about 14 miles from Papeete at a lighthouse and monument erected to commemorate the voyage of Capt Cook. We returned in time for lunch and left Tahiti at about 3pm on the long run of 11 days to 'Frisco and we arrive there on Friday morning at 10am we hope and this is Wednesday.
Since leaving our last post, games have been started on board and Bill and his partner beat my partner and me for the final of the mixed doubles in the quoit championship which is not too bad for us.
Last night was the fancy dress ball and it was a great success as nearly everyone dressed for it. I rigged out in a sheik outfit made up of and pair of highly ornate silk pyjamas and a sheet and a large scarlet silk h'chief and a multicoloured head band all from around the ship and together made rather an attractive outfit.
Well that is that and it brings me I think up to date and if you will keep all my letters till my return I will fill in in detail where required on my return as I find it impractical to write a diary so far.
We are both well and I think Bill is improving but we intend going straight to Rochester in Minnesota to see the Mayo's and then enjoy the trip after.
I hope you can read this as the boat is rolling and pitching this afternoon and it makes hard work of writing letters.
I hope you are all well at home, even Mack.
Love to all,
Gordon
You have not forgotten my address c/- American Express Co Broadway, NYC.
