144 A V O Y A G E T O 



_'7"7; if it has a fliarp found, and the waves fucceed each other 

 ia{\, that the rcverfe will happen. 



Perhaps, there is fcarccly a fpot in the univerfe that af-' 

 fords a more luxuriant profpcdl than the South Eafl part of 

 Otaheite. The hills are high and deep; and, in many 

 places, craggy. But they are covered to the very fummits 

 with trees and fhrubs, in fuch a manner, that the fpc(^ator 

 can fcarcely help thinking, that the very rocks pofTefs the 

 property of producing and fupporting their verdant cloth- 

 ing. The flat land which bounds thofe hills toward the fea, 

 and the interjacent valleys alfo, teem with various produc- 

 tions that grow with the moft exuberant vigour; and, at 

 once, fill the mind of the beholder with the idea, that no 

 place upon earth can outdo this, in the fl;rength and beauty 

 of vegetation. Nature has been no lefs liberal in diftributing 

 livulets, which are found in every valley ; and as they ap- 

 proach the fea, often divide into two or three branches, ferti- 

 lizing the flat lands through which they run. The habitations 

 of the natives are fcattered, without order, upon thefe flats ; 

 and many of them appearing toward the fliore, prefented 

 a delightful fcene, viewed from our fliips ; efpecially as the 

 fea, within the reef, which bounds the coaft, is perfedly 

 flill, and aflfords a fafe navigation, at all times, for the in- 

 habitants ; who are often feen paddling in their canoes in- 

 dolently along, in pafling from place to place, or in going 

 to fifli. On viewing thefe charming fcencs, I have often re- 

 gretted my inability to tranfmit to thofc who have had no 

 opportunity ot feeing them, fuch a dcfcription as might, 

 in fome raeaCurc, convey an imprcllion fimilar to what mud 

 be felt by every one who has been fortunate enough to be 

 upon the fpot. 



It 



