Hall. — On tlie Island of Rapa. 79 



wBicli jut up in this curious islaud. This had never been done, and, 

 previous to arrival, I had heard so many different guesses at the height of 

 the Eapa peaks, varying from 400 to 1,400 feet, &c., that I was the more 

 anxious to arrive at something definite. The difficulty was to secure a 

 sufficiently level space to measure a base line (not the most easy thing to 

 do with precision, even under favourable circumstances) . However, finding 

 the shore was impracticable, I selected a spot on the beach, nearly in a line 

 with the ship and the mountain. Then I ascertained the length of this in 

 three ways. One by measurement from the chart, another by sound, and 

 thirdly by the angle subtended by the ship's whole length, with sextant. 

 The average of these gave me a tolerable base, and, of course, by the angles 

 at each end of the same, and a little triangulation, I arrived at the height of 

 the peak I selected, viz., 2,100 feet. 



My short experience of the inhabitants, together with the testimony of 

 others, gave me a very favourable impression of their peaceful simplicity of 

 character and honesty. They number now only about 125 to 130 men, 

 women, and children. Formerly it was thought, and indeed according to 

 their own account, they were 1,200 to 1,500 in number ; but it is said that 

 internal wars in the fiLrst instance, and then the ravages of various epidemics 

 brought amongst them, have reduced the inhabitants to the present limited 

 number. They are, in appearance, a fine, manly, well-made race, and 

 looked very Maori to me. The wonder is, that living as they do principally 

 upon an esculent root called " taro," somewhat tasteless and insipid tons, 

 with a scanty supply of meat and fish, they keep up so good an appear- 

 ance. 



The language generally, the names of the points of land, mountains, &c., 

 seemed to my ear also very Maori-like. Hov^^ever, I cannot speak very 

 positively on this head, as my Maori lore is not great. Almost the only 

 word of Maori which I know (and that they tell me is wrong), is TenaJco. 

 Of course I tried the effect of this, but I was responded to by Uronnah ! 

 sounding very much like " Your honour," which I thought projDerly respect- 

 ful and somewhat Irish. 



The climate of the island must be to a European very delightful, for, 

 surrounded as it is by the sea, the temperature is very equable, and though 

 close to the tropics, the thermometer seldom shows more than 75° in the 

 height of summer. The weather, though mostly fine, is changeable, with 

 occasional sudden showers, as might be expected from the effect of the high 

 peaks arresting the clouds, and causing them to precipitate their suspended 

 moisture. The winds are for nearly nine months of the year from S.E. to 

 K.E., and westerly the remaining part ; for of course, lying so near the 

 tropic, the trade wind is swayed southward by the sun in the summer time 



