G8 PAUMATO GROUP. 



cumference, 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 vegeta- 

 tion. The cocoa-nut, pandanus, and other subjects of the 

 vegetable kingdom, grew in the greatest abundance in all 

 parts of the island. Fresh water, however, we saw none, 

 except here and there in pools. The shells found on the 

 beach were the turbo, volutis, venus, and the pearl oys- 

 ter. 



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 observa- 

 tions placed it in latitude 15° 4A' 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 w r e 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 resem- 



* 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 compen- 

 sation. 



