TAHITI, the largest and most important of the French Society islands in the Pacific ocean, in 17° 38' S., 3o' W. Area about 600 sq.m. and population (1931), 16,781. The chief town is Papeete, with 7,061 inhabitants, of whom 2,126 are French. For an account of the physical structure, climate, flora and fauna and general geography see PACIFIC ISLANDS.
History.—The discovery and early exploration of the Society islands is treated under that heading. In 1788, when Lieutenant Bligh, in the "Bounty," visited Tahiti, the leading chief was Po mare, whose family had been pre-eminent in the island for more than a century. Aided by 16 of the "Bounty" mutineers, and armed with guns procured from Bligh and a Swedish vessel, Pomare greatly strengthened his power and brought to a success ful close a long struggle with Eimeo.
The attempt at colonization by the Spaniards in 1774 was fol lowed by the settlement of 3o persons brought, in 1797, by the missionary ship "Duff." Though befriended by Pomare I. (who lived till 1805), they had many difficulties, especially from the constant wars, and at length they fled with Pomare II. to Eimeo and ultimately to New South Wales, returning in 1812, when Pomare renounced heathenism. In 1815 he regained his power in Tahiti. For a time the missionaries made good progress—a printing press was established (1817), and coffee, cotton and sugar were planted (1819) ; but soon there came a serious relapse into heathen practices and immorality. Pomare II. died of drink in 1824. His successor, Pomare III., died in 1827, and was suc ceeded by his half-sister Aimata, the unfortunate "Queen Pomare (IV.)." In 1828 a new fanatical sect, the "Mamaia," arose, which gave much trouble to the missions. The leader proclaimed that he was Jesus Christ, and promised to his followers a sensual para dise. In 1836 the French Catholic missionaries in Mangareva attempted to open a mission in Tahiti. Queen Pomare, advised by the English missionary and consul, Pritchard, refused her consent, and removed by force two priests who had landed surreptitiously and to whom many of the opposition party in the state had rallied. In 1838 a French frigate appeared under the command of Abel Dupetit-Thouars, and extorted from Pomare the right of settle ment for Frenchmen of every profession. Pritchard opposed this, and caused Pomare to apply for British protection; but this was a failure, and the native chiefs compelled the queen, against her will, to turn to France. A convention was signed in 1843, placing the
islands under French protection, the authority of the queen and chiefs being expressly reserved. Dupetit-Thouars now reappeared, and, alleging that the treaty had not been duly carried out, deposed the queen and took possession of the island. His high-handed action was not countenanced by the French Government ; but while, on formal protest being made from England, it professed not to sanction the annexation, it did not retrace the steps taken. Two years were spent in reducing the party in the islands opposed to French rule; an attempt to conquer the western islands failed; and at length, by agreement with England, France promised to return to the plan of a protectorate and leave the western islands to their rightful owners. Pomare died in 1877, and her son Ariane (Pomare V.) abdicated in 188o, handing over the administration to France, and in the same year Tahiti, including Eimeo, was pro claimed a French colony. In 1903 the whole of the French estab lishments in the Eastern Pacific were declared one colony, and the then existing elective general council was superseded by the pres ent administration. Since this Federation more trade has visited Tahiti and in 1925 a constant service of shipping between Papeete, the Tuamotus, Marquesas, Leeward islands and San Francisco was increased by four steamers.
BIBLIOGRAPHY.—Besides the narratives of early voyages, and general works covering the Society islands (see PAcmc) , see Vincendon Dumoulin, Les Iles Tahiti, esquisses historiques et geographiques (Paris, 1844) ; A. Gonfil, "Tahiti," in La France coloniale (Paris, 1886) ; H. Le Chartier, Tahiti (Paris, 1887) ; Monchoisy, La Nouvelle Cythere (Paris, 1888) ; G. Collingridge, "Who discovered Tahiti?" in Journ. Polynesian Soc. xii. (1903). Among the narrative works of visitors to Tahiti may be mentioned Pierre Loti, Le mariage de Loti (Paris, 1880 ; Dora Hort, Tahiti: the Garden of the Pacific (London, 1891) ; P. Huguenin, Raiatea la sacrie (Neuchatel, 1902) ; G. Calderon, Tahiti (192 ) .
TAHR (Hemitragus jemlaicus), a shaggy-haired, brown Himalayan wild goat, characterized by its short, triangular and sharply keeled horns. Besides the tahr the genus includes the wariatu or Nilgiri ibex (H. hylocrius), from south India, and the smaller H. jayakeri, from south Arabia. Tahr frequent the worst ground of all ruminants.