9« 



>777- 

 Oaober. 



A VOYAGE TO 



der that furrounds the grcatcfl part of it, toward the fea. 

 Eimeo, on the contrary, has hills running in different di- 

 re<5lions, which, are very ilecp and rugged, leaving, in 

 the incerfpaces, very large valleys, and gently -rifing 

 grounds about their lides. Thefe hills, though of a rocky 

 difpofition, are, in general, covered, almoft to their tops, 

 with trees ; but the lower parts, on the fides, frequently 

 only with fern. At the bottom of the harbour, where we 

 lay, the ground rifcs gently to the foot of the hills which 

 run acrofs nearly in the middle of the ifland ; but its flat 

 border, on each fide, at a very fmall diftance from the fea, 

 becomes quite fteep. This gives it a romantic call, which 

 renders it a profpecft fuperior to any thing we faw at Ota- 

 heite. The foil, about the low grounds, is a yellowifli and 

 pretty fiilF mould ; but, upon the lower hills, it is blacker 

 and more loofe : and the Hone that compofes the hills is, 

 when broken, of a blueifli colour, but not very compaiH: 

 texture, with fome particles of glimmer interfpcrfed. Thefe 

 particulars fcem worthy of obfcrvation. Perhaps the reader 

 will think diflcrently of my judgment, when I add, that, 

 near the ftation of our fhips, were two large fioncs, or ra- 

 ther rocks, concerning which the natives have fome fuper- 

 ftitious notions. They confidcr them as Eaiooas, or Divi- 

 nities ; faying, that they are brother and fifter, and that they 

 came, by fome fupernatural means, from Ulietea. 



C H A F. 



