TAHITI AND THE FRENCH ISLAND OF THE PACIFIC in Pictures

The dry and sometimes unneccesarily difficult text (""Just prior to commencing"" instead of before beginning) limits the appeal of a naturally appealing subject but avoids most of the excesses of tourist enticements. The geography, history and daily doings of the islands and their inhabitants are set forth in the outline form typical of the series. The text is candid in treating the degeneration caused by misguided missionaries, somewhat less probing in regard to the present economic, political and social situation, particularly on the other islands. For older children, this enlarges upon the encyclopedia without providing any of the insights of the informed anthropologist or natural scientist into a unique area; the illustrations are merely adequate.