TAHITI. 29 



In spite of the steepness of the cliffs, the descent to the lake was 

 accomplished without accident, by scrambling down the bed of a 

 small stream, although they were compelled to stop from time to 

 time, resting upon their staves, or clinging to the shrubs and roots, 

 while the stones they had set in motion rushed onwards, accumulating 

 others in their course, until the united mass equalled an avalanche. 



When they reached the edge of the lake, their guides constructed 

 a hut, in which they passed the night. The next day Lieutenant 

 Emmons made a survey of the lake, and sounded its depth from a 

 raft. It was found to be half a mile in length, a third of a mile in 

 breadth, and in shape nearly oval. The depth in the middle was 

 ninety-six feet, whence it gradually decreases to the edge. It had 

 rained the whole of the preceding night, and the lake was observed 

 to rise about five feet in twenty hours. As far as could be discovered 

 it has no outlet ; but the natives assert that if a bread-fruit be thrown 

 into the water, it will make its appearance at a spring, which gushes 

 from the hill-side, about two miles north of Ooaigarra, and near the 

 sea. The height of the surface of the lake, measured by the sym- 

 piesometer, is about one thousand seven hundred feet above the level 

 of the sea. 



This detachment suffered not a little from the continual rains, by 

 which they were kept constantly wet, and from being obliged to sleep 

 in their damp clothes. Their guides also became apprehensive that 

 they would experience much difficulty in their descent to the southern 

 side of the island, in consequence of the Ooaigarra, by whose valley 

 the only route lay, becoming so much swollen as to be dangerous. 

 It was, therefore, resolved to set out without delay ; but before their 

 preparations were completed, they were joined by the other detach- 

 ment. 



This detachment having failed in reaching the summit of Orohena 

 had followed the route of the others. The guides who led the moun- 

 tain detachment were not found as skilful as they had pretended. 

 On the first day, after many unnecessary turnings, they stated that 

 it would be necessary to halt, as the hour was late, and there was 

 a risk of accident from falling, or from being crushed by stones, for 

 which their queen would be held responsible. They then, after much 

 searching, led the detachment to the shelter of a vast projecting 

 boulder, where the ground was dry, and afforded sufficient room 

 to lodge fifty persons. This place was estimated to be two thousand 



