Portrait of a young lady from Tahiti

This portrait of a young lady from Tahiti (here partially coloured by me) was published

 in the 1909 August 8 issue of the Swedish weekly Hvar 8 Dag.

Tahiti a hundred years ago: "The queen of emerald islands"

"Oh, Tahiti! Queen among emerald islands!"
Papeete seen from the sea. (1909)

In its August 8 issue, the Swedish weekly Hvar 8 Dag published an account of a visit to Tahiti by the writer, actor and adventurer William A:son Grebst. If one is to believe the writer, Tahiti was a place close to paradise a hundred years ago:

"And the women!
Yes, the women in the beauty of their light brown young bodies!"
When crowned by timid white tiaras or radiant warm pauauas they cross the road.
With the fire of glowing eyes."

"More than anything else they love flowers. Even more than love itself."
Otea dance.

"Tall men with perfect, strong bodies."

"The land of Cockaigne. Nobody works. Nobody squabbles about what is mine and what is yours."
A Tahitian Faré.

A white man's house.

Lake Waihiria.

"The lagoon is full of fish. The woods abound in fruits."

William A:son Grebst in Tahiti.