CHAP. IV.] MOTU NARARA TAURAMORIA. Ill 



To the eastward of the southern end of Kapiti is 

 the small island of Motu Narara. It is about three- 

 quarters of a mile in circumference, and composed of 

 soft yellow slate, which strikes from north-east to 

 south-west, and dips to the south-east at an angle of 

 about forty-five degrees. The vegetation is scanty, 

 and confined to a few bushes of flax, or Euphor- 

 bium, and a species of Linum with blue flowers. 

 On the north of this rocky islet is a sandy beach, 

 on which stand the houses of the Europeans em- 

 ployed in whaling, and several huts of the natives. 



This island is separated only by a narrow channel 

 from Kapiti, and opposite to it lies a little valley, 

 where a rivulet has hollowed out a bed in a hard 

 siliceous rock overlaid by clay-slate. At the outlet 

 of the rivulet is a native village. The water in the 

 channel is deep enough for a small vessel. 



Motu Narara possesses a spring of fresh water 

 close to the sea-shore : it is, however, so small, that 

 the natives generally procure their supplies from 

 Kapiti. 



Separated from this island by a narrow and shal- 

 low channel, lies Tauramoria, a barren hilly island, 

 little more than a mile in circumference. It con- 

 sists of clay-slate, and its shape is that of an obtuse 

 cone. On its north-west side are some native huts ; 

 amongst them that of Rauparaha : and on the south- 

 east side is a whaling establishment. All these 

 habitations stand on a narrow rocky beach which 

 girds the island. *fs 



