TABU
A story
of the south seas
Only native-born
south sea islanders...
appear in this picture with
a few half-castes and chinese.
First chapter
PARADISE
A LAND OF ENCHANTMEN REMORE IN THE SOUTH SEAS...
THE ISLAND OF BORA-BORA STILL
UNTOUCHED BY THE HAND OF CIVILIZATION.
GREETING FROM THE CHIEF OF FANUMA
LORD OF ALL THE ISLANDS
TO THE CHIEF OF BORA BORA
UPON YOU AND YOUR PEOPLE
I CONFER THE HIGHEST HONOR
KNOWN TO OUR ISLANDS
THE MAIDEN SACRED TO OUR GODS
HAS PASSED AWAY AND I DECREE
THAT FROM YOUR ISLAND
SHALL COME HER SUCCESSOR
ONE I HAVE CHOSEN FOR HER BEAUTY,
FOR HER VIRTUE, FOR HER ROYAL BLOOD,
SHE WHO IS NAMED RERI
NO LAW OF THE GODS IS MORE TO BE FEARED
THAN THAT WHICH GUARDS THE CHOSEN ONE
MAN MUST NOT TOUCH HER...
OR CAST UPON HER THE EYE OF DESIRE
FOR IN HER HONOR
RESTS THE HONOR OF ALL HER PEOPLE
SACRED IS RERI FROM THIS TIME FORTH
SHE IS TABU
TO BREAK THIS TABU MEANS DEATH
HITU: WORTHIEST OF MY SUBJECTS
BEARS THIS MESSAGE
AND WILL BRING THE MAID TO ME...
FOR HER SAFETY
HE WILL ANSWER WUTH HIS LIFE
The whole Island is still in an uproar.
The girl Reri has been stolen.
Whatever has happened, according to their law
she is still the "Chosen one"...
Unless she is returned
the Tabu means death...
She will be hunted down and sacrificed,
Matahari will be killed old Hitu himself will die.
I shall not leave until I learn
what the island is going to do.
NO LAW OF THE GODS IS MORE TO BE FEARED
THAN THAT WHICH GUARDS THE CHOSEN MAID
MAN MUST NOT TOUCH HER...
OR CAST UPON HER THE EYE OF DESIRE
TO BREAK THIS TABU MEANS DEATH
Second chapter
PARADISE LOS
FLEEING THE VENGEANCE OF THE TABU
THE GUILTY LOVERS FOUGHT THEIR WAY...
OVER LEAGUES OF OPEN SEA
SEEKING SOME ISLAND OF THE PEARL TRADE...
WHERE THE WHITE MAN RULES
AND THE OLD GODS ARE FORGOTTEN
IN THEIR FRAIL CANOE THROUGH STORMS
UNDER A BURNING SKY THIRST-CRAZED AND STARVING...
ALWAYS DRIVEN ON BY FEAR...
FEAR OF THE AVENGING TABU.
The couple found in their wrecked canoe,
as already reported, recovered quickly.
The boy, it develops, is born diver,
the best we have ever had on the island.
But it seems only play to him.
He evidently does not yet realize
what money means.
But the girl was stolen
before the ship left Bora-Bora
As the Government desires above all things
to avoid conflict between the islands under its rule,...
it demands the arrest
of this man and woman wherever found.
For their arrest, the Government ofers
a reward of Five Hundred Frans.
Et. Cadoustal .
A most unfortunate accident happened today on the Lagoon.
It occured while most of the people were ashore
at one of their native peasts.
There is a spot in the lagoon, the richest
in pearl beds of any in the South Seas.
But this spot is Tabu. Natives shun it.
Today, one of our old divers
defying the superstition.
An enormous man-eating shark guards
these pearls the native believe...
Today's tragedy proves this is
no superstition: the shark is there.
I trust I have the Government's approval
in putting up a sign forbidding
further diving in this place.
TABU
THREE DAYS I GIVE YOU
YOU RETURN WITH ME OR MATAHI DIES
THREE DAYS
HITU
SHIPS AGENT - TICKETS SOLD TO ALL ISLAND PORTS
The schooner Hinano is due
June 24h bound for Papeete.
SCHOONER HINANO ARRIVES IN TWO DAYS (JUNE 24th)
AND LEAVES FOR PAPEETE THE FOLLOWING MORNING
PRICE OF TWO TICKETS: 130 Frans
MATAHI OWES KONG AH - BILL RENDERED
(WINES, CHAMPAGNE, Etc. - SERVED VILLAGERS AT FEAST)
TO MATAHI
MY LOVE
I MUST GO HITU IS HERE AND WAITS FOR ME
YOU WILL DIE IF I DO NOT OBEY
I WILL GO SO THAT YOU MAY LIVE
THE TABU IS UPON US
I HAVE BEEN SO HAPPY WITH YOU FAR MORE
THAN I DESERVED THE LOVE YOU HAVE GIVEN ME
I WILL KEEP TO THE LAST BEAT OF MY HEAR
ACROSS THE GREAT WATTERS I WILL COME TO YOU
IN YOUR DREAMS WHEN THE MOON SPREADS
ITS PATH ON THE SEA FAREWELL
TABU