156 Couthouy on Coral Formations 



Capt. Beechey, in the '' Yoyage of the Blossom," part L 

 Chap. IX. Lond. Ed., speaking of tides in the harbors of Ta- 

 hiti, remarks, '' At Toanoa, it is usually low water about six 

 every morning, and high water half an hour after noon," and 

 attributes this peculiarity to the sea breeze by day, forcing 

 the water into the harbor, which is a lagoon between the reef 

 and shore; adding, "as the wind abates, the water subsides, 

 and the nights being generally calm, the water finds its low- 

 est level by morning." 



Now the first of these propositions, though strictly true, 

 is only a partial statement, conveying, and (as is evident 

 from the context) designed to convey, the idea that the flood 

 tide lasts only about six hours, while the ebb continues for 

 eighteen, from noon of one day till six the next morning. 

 The second quotation contains a positive mis-statement. In 

 the first place, at Toanoa, as in all the harbors of Tahiti and 

 the other Society Islands, it is full sea regnlarly twice in 

 twentyfour hours, and always about noon and midnight ; and 

 low water about six o'clock, morning and evening. The morn- 

 ings are calm for perhaps eleven months in the year, the trade 

 wind or sea breeze commonly setting in about eleven o'clock, 

 and prevailing in its greatest strength from noon till four or 

 five P. M. It then dies away, and by eight or nine P. M. 

 there is a dead calm which continues till the next forenoon. 



Thus instead of the tide being forced into the harbor by 

 the sea breeze, we find that a great jiart of the day and all 

 the night flood takes place during a calm, whereas during 

 the afternoon, the water ebbs rapidly against the full power 

 of the breeze. Even if Capt. B. were correct, in regard to 

 the duration of the ebb and flood, his explanation would not 

 reach the case of those harbors on the leeward side of the 

 islands, where the trades are not felt, and yet the tides follow 

 the same course as those on the opposite side. 



In Kotzebue's account of his voyage round the world, he 

 also has given currency to very inaccurate statements on this 

 subject. In his remarks on Tahiti, we find the following 

 passage. '^ Every noon, the whole year round, the moment 

 the sun touches the meridian, the water is highest, and falls 

 with the sinking sun, till midnight." 



