TAHITI. 29 



nim. The other gentlemen, Messrs. Peale, Pickering, Couthouy, and 

 Brackenridge, proceeded forwards; but they soon found that the guides 

 had no intention to lead them to the top of the mountain, during the 

 continuance of the heavy rains, but pursued a course so devious and 

 circuitous as to make it probable that they would lose the chance of 

 seeing either the mountain or the lake. They felt assured that the 

 ascent, under more favourable circumstances, would have been practi- 

 cable, but were satisfied that it would require more time than they 

 could spare. Notwithstanding their disappointment, they were com- 

 pelled at last to admit that the guides had acted wisely ; for during the 

 continuance of such rains as afterwards fell, the ascent of the mountain 

 would not only have been difficult, but extremely dangerous. 



Compelled to abandon the attempt, they followed and overtook Mr. 

 Dana, and then turned up the valley. About noon, after having 

 crossed the stream so often that a fourth of the way might be said to 

 be by water, they reached the residence of the native family Waiipi. 



Dr. Pickering is of opinion that this dwelling would be an excellent 

 station for a botanist. It has a rich field around it, and is, besides, 

 within a short distance of the most elevated parts of the island. 



They did not stop at this place, but proceeding forwards reached a 

 spot called by the natives Opua, where, in a. shelter of the same kind 

 as that which has been described as their previous bivouac, they spent 

 the night. The rain fell in torrents, and about midnight a violent 

 thundergust passed through the valley. 



The next morning they went on towards the lake, and on reaching 

 the crest of the intervening ridge, the weather moderated, and gave 

 them an opportunity of enjoying the extensive prospect it commands. 

 Besides the lak£ at their feet, as seen by the other detachment, they 

 had a view of the cleft peak of Orohena, at the distance of about seven 

 miles, rising from five thousand to six thousand feet above the spot 

 where they ^ood. Descending the steep sides of the basin of the lake, 

 they joined the other detachment about noon". 



It has been stated that the lake had been observed to rise five feet. 

 It was now evident that it had reached as high a level as its waters 

 ever attain. Many plants (such as the Polygonums) which could not 

 live long under such circumstances, were found entirely submerged, 

 and the water had reached the woody plants on the shores, and 

 threatened their speedy destruction. 



The proposed line of descent lay on the opposite side of the lake, 

 and the shores are so precipitous as to prevent walking around it. It 

 became necessary, therefore, to cross it upon a raft, which was a slow 

 process. The natives swam over. After crossing the lake, the 



C2 



