170 papieti. [1839. 



the frothy sea, with its cool, verdant groves, and its old, 

 dilapidated fortress, over which waves the red flag of Tahiti.* 

 Across the fine sheet of smooth water spreading out before 

 you, along the middle of the curvature of the hot sandy beach, 

 lies the town of Papieti, backed by pinnacle-shaped moun- 

 tains, and half-hidden beneath the dark green foliage of the 

 bread-fruit, — beneath the round-leaved myrtle, the luxuriant 

 palm, and the noble cocoa. The white cottages of the foreign 

 residents, with their thatched roofs and green blinds, and the 

 light-built and sombre-looking huts, of the natives, are scattered 

 along the shore, or peep out, here and there, from the thickets 

 of limes and oranges in which they are imbosomed. 



Papieti is the largest town on the island, or in the group. 

 It is difficult to form any estimate in regard to the popula- 

 tion. The habits of the Tahitian are extremely migratory ; 

 his wants are easily and quickly supplied, and a few hours' 

 work will provide him with a comfortable habitation. When 

 there are a number of foreign vessels in port, and on other 

 great occasions, the village is overrun with inhabitants, who 

 flock thither in crowds, but soon betake themselves again to 

 other parts of the island. This is the ordinary residence of 

 the queen and the foreign consuls. It boasts a wharf and a 

 warehouse, and the harbor is probably the best and safest in 

 the Pacific ; it is frequently visited by whalers, and is now 

 second only, in commercial importance, to Honolulu. 



Five miles east of Papieti is the town of Matavai, which 

 has a fine harbor. Vessels pass up to it from Papieti, inside 

 the reef. It is situated on lower ground ; but its location, 

 nevertheless, is quite pleasant. Point Venus, on Matavai 

 Bay, is chiefly celebrated, and, indeed, derives its name, 

 from the fact, that Captain Cook observed the transit of 

 Venus over the sun's disk from this place. Papoii and Toa- 

 noa, also on the northern side of the island, have good harbors. 

 On the south side is Otapuna, next in size and importance 

 to Papieti; it is built on a low point of land, and the pearl 



* The Tahitian flag consists of two red horizontal stripes, with a white one 

 between them. 



