220 VOYAGES OF A NATURALIST 



rock which forms the coast in this part of Tahiti. 

 Now and again valleys would open into view, 

 and down them sparkling rivers rushed into the 

 sea. 



It was late in the afternoon when we reached 

 Tautira, and a boat at once put off from the 

 shore. In it came the chief of the village, who 

 piloted us safely through the passage in the reef. 

 We anchored off the mouth of the small river, 

 near the banks of which the village of Tautira is 

 built. 



The barrier-reef in this part of the island is 

 almost a-wash at high tide ; it is nearly semi- 

 circular in shape, and so perfectly flat on the top 

 that, as we entered the passage, we seemed to be 

 steaming through a gateway in a low wall. 



The shore is a strip of red-coloured sand, with 

 a narrow belt of coconut palms. Behind the 

 palm trees lies the village, and beyond rises a 

 magnificent range of hills clothed to the summit 

 with almost impenetrable forests. The houses 

 are well built, of native pattern ; the walls are made 

 of upright bamboos, with a half -inch space between 

 each to allow a free passage of air into the house. 

 Rows of mats are so arranged that they can be 

 let down to cover the walls in case of rain, while 

 at other times they are rolled up under the eaves. 

 All the houses are thatched with leaves of either 

 the coconut palm or pandanus. 



The surroundings of Tautira are very beautiful. 



