68 PAUMATO GROUP. 



lagoon was several miles in circumference, and, like all those 

 we had seen before, abounded in curious fish. 



As it was already late in the day, and the ships " laying- 

 to " a considerable distance from our boats, we did not deem 

 it prudent to continue the examination. We were, however, 

 perfectly satisfied the island was uninhabited, except by birds, 

 turtles, and rats, and that the huts we found near the beach 

 had been erected by the men of some vessel engaged in the 

 pearl fishery.* 



Though the soil was light, there was no want of vegetation. 

 The cocoa-nut, pandanus, and other subjects of the vege- 

 table kingdom, grew in the greatest abundance in all parts of 

 the island. Fresh water, however, wr saw none, except here 

 and there in pools. The shells found on the beach were the 

 turbo, volutis, venus, and the pearl oyster. 



At the distance of two hundred yards from the shore we 

 could find no bottom with the hand-lead ; boats may approach 

 very near the beach. Harbors there are none. The whole 

 island is of coral formation, and our observations placed it 

 in latitude 15 44' 00" south, and longitude 14 45' 15" 

 west. 



August 30th. During this day we had frequent showers 

 of rain. At 6 A. M., when King's Island bore northeast, 

 descried land bearing southwest steered for it ; it proved to 

 be the Island of Raraka. This island is very narrow, and 

 higher than any we have yet seen. There are a few transient 

 inhabitants on it, left by an English schooner in quest of 

 pearls one of them is a white man, the others are natives, 

 of Tahati. In other respects it so much resembles the island 



The vessels engaged in this fishery belong to foreigners who reside at Tahiti. The 

 mode of taking the oysters is by natives, who are employed as divers for a small com* 

 pensation. 



