472 



AUSTRALASIA. 



tropical vegetation. Of more symmetrical form is Taiti Nui ("Great Tahiti"), 

 whose regular cone occupies the centre of the island, which is connected on the 

 south-east by a narrow tongue of land with Taiti Iti, or " Little Tahiti." Komo, 

 highest peak of the latter (3,700 feet), is nearly doubled in height by the superb 

 Orohena (7,335 feet), which springs from the centre of Great Tahiti. The neigh- 



Fig. 207. — The Maequesas. 



Scale 1 : 2,000,000. 



West oF breenwich 



to 1,000 

 Fathoms. 



Depths. 



1,000 to 2.000 

 Fathoms. 



2,000 Fathoms 

 and upwards. 



30 Miles. 



bouring Aorai is nearly as lofty, while several of the surrounding satellites of these 

 two monarchs attain an altitude of 5,000 feet. Orohena, that is, "Soil of the Gods," 

 terminating in a cluster of vertical basalt columns, has never been scaled, and even 

 the more accessible Aorai was only ascended for the first time in 1882. Some 

 hundred and fifty streams or rivulets rushing in cascades over the basalt terraces 

 have gradually deposited the rich detritus of the eruptive rocks on the narrow 



