AVA OR KAVA (mACROPIPER METHYSTICUM), TAHITI. 



CHAPTER XVIII 



TAHITI AND NEW ZEALAND 



Pass through the Low Archipelago — Tahiti — Aspect — Vegetation on the mountains 

 — View of Eimeo — Excursion into the interior — Profound ravines — Succession 

 of waterfalls — Number of wild useful plants — Temperance of the inhabitants — 

 Their moral state — Parliament convened — New Zealand — Bay of islands — 

 Hippahs — Excursion to Waimate — Missionary establishment — English weeds 

 now run wild — Waiomio — Funeral of a New Zealand woman — Sail for 

 Australia. 



October 20th. — The survey of the Galapagos Archipelago being 

 concluded, we steered towards Tahiti and commenced our long ■ 

 passage of 3200 miles. In the course of a few days we sailed 

 out of the gloomy and clouded ocean-district which extends 

 during the winter far from the coast of South America. We 

 then enjoyed bright and clear weather, while running pleasantly 

 along at the rate of 150 or 160 miles a day before the steady 

 trade-wind. The temperature in this more central part of 

 the Pacific is higher than near the American shore. The 



