416 APPExNDIX. 



shallowest part. Between it and Point Venus there is a 

 channel about fifty yards wide, with 17, 15, and 10 fathoms 

 close to the reef; and by anchoring a boat on the edge of the 

 shoal, a vessel may enter with perfect safety, provided the 

 breeze be fair. It is, however, better to pass to the south- 

 ward of the bank, which may be ascertained by two remark- 

 able cocoa-nut trees in the E.N.E. being seen, to the south- 

 ward of an European built house on the beach, bearing E. 

 by N., and haul round it towards the anchorage, taking care 

 not to get to leeward, so as to bring the N.E. bluff of One- 

 tree Hill to bear to the southward of S.E., as there are several 

 coral banks in that direction. Anchor in eight and a half or 

 nine fathoms, mud, off old Pomarre's house, taking care of 

 the reef that lies off that part of the sliore. 



To the westward of Matavai there are three good harboiu's, 

 Papawa, Toanoa, and Papiete, of which the latter is the 

 largest and the most frequented. The others, however, are 

 the most healthy. The entrances to all are extremely narrow, 

 and a stranger ought to take on board a pilot ; but he should 

 bear in mind that some of the persons who act in that capacity, 

 though well acquainted with the channels, vuiderstand very 

 little about navio-ating a vessel. 



Toanoa is four miles west of Matavai, and may be known 

 by a remai'kable ragged mountain, which will be seen through 

 a deep valley when abreast of it. When near, this ragged 

 mountain is very conspicuous, and at night it is a good guide 

 to the entrance. 



The channel into Toanoa is only three hundred and thirty 

 yards Mide ; off the eastern side of the passage there is a rock 

 upon which the sea sometimes breaks, lying N. W. sixty fathoms 

 from the breakers, and another on the inner side of the opposite 

 reef. Neither of these rocks, however, narrow the channel much, 

 and are only dangerous in the event of the wind breaking the 

 ship off, or in rounding the reefs closely. With a fair wind 

 sail boldly in, keeping mid-channel, and, clueing all up, allow 

 the ship to shoot into a berth about two cables' length from 

 the shore in thirteen or fourteen fathoms. Here she must 



