Fall of the Fautaua. — Island Politics. 227 



(650 feet), into a huge basin, which lies at the foot of a lofty 

 precipice, 420 metres (1450 feet) above the level of the sea; 

 the temperature of the water in the basin itself being about 

 70" Fahr. 



The steep crags, which tower overhead on all sides, and like 

 a gigantic wall impede the view of the peninsula of Taiarapu, 

 which lies behind them, are as marvellous in the luxiu-iance 

 of the vegetation that covers them, as they are strategically 

 important by their impregnability, the French having only 

 succeeded in gaining footing upon them by treachery, and 

 not by fortune of war. Some chiefs favourable to the French 

 had acted as guides, and had led them by secret and danger- 

 ous paths up to these heights, for which service they to this 

 day receive an annual pension paid in gold out of the state 

 treasury. Formerly the rough, steep, almost inaccessible 

 precipices formed of themselves a natural fort, and by their 

 peculiar form, their position, and their strength, might be 

 called the key of the entire island. The French conquerors 

 immediately converted this spot, 630 metres (2052 feet) above 

 the level of the sea, into a small fort with the usual tricolor 

 flag, and, on the limited flat surface at their disposal, on 

 which alone it was possible to build, erected a barrack and a 

 few huts, besides laying out a kitchen-garden, which supplies 

 with fruit and vegetables the residents of this solitary but 

 lovely abode. 



The officer on guard within the fort received us with that 

 fascinating friendliness and honJwmmie characteristic of the 



Q2 



