40 TAHITI AND EIMEO. 



departure of the Vincennes, and were subsequently completed by the 

 officers of the Peacock.* 



I was desirous, in addition, of ascertaining with precision the least 

 depth of water on the Dolphin Shoal, and had employed boats in 

 making accurate soundings. The results, however, were so unsatis- 

 factory, on account of the ever-varying level of the tide, that I could 

 not hope that they would serve for a reference by which to ascertain 

 the future increase of this bank, by the growth of the coral. I there- 

 fore planted a large stone, with a horizontal surface, and having found 

 the shoalest place on the bank, carefully measured the difference in the 

 height of the surface of the stone and the rock of the bank, by an 

 excellent spirit-level. I then caused a mark to be traced upon the 

 surface of the stone pointing towards the place on the bank where the 

 levelling-staff had been placed. The difference of level was twenty- 

 five feet seven inches. Old Taua, the chief of the district, promised 

 me that he would taboo the stone, and that it should not be touched or 

 disturbed on any account ; and, to preserve it from any accidental 

 disturbance, it was set four feet into the ground. 



The Vincennes moved to the harbour of Papieti on the 22d Septem- 

 ber. At the same time, orders were given to the Peacock and Flying- 

 Fish to take on board their articles from Point Venus, and to follow 

 as soon as they had done so. The tender required some repairs, which 

 could be done with more safety at Papieti. Both vessels joined us in 

 that harbour on the 24th. 



In proceeding to Papieti, we left Matavai Bay in the morning, and 

 within a few hours had anchored in the harbour of the former place. 

 No soundings are to be had beyond the line of reefs, and consequently 

 there is no anchorage ; the outer wall of the reef surrounding the 

 island is in fact perpendicular, with the exception of some projecting 

 patches in Matavai Bay, and to the eastward of Point Venus. On the 

 latter the French frigate Artemise struck, in 1836. 



At the season of the year when we made this short passage, there 

 is some danger to be apprehended in entering the harbour of Papieti, 

 and much caution is therefore necessary. The trades at this season 

 are irregular, and the winds which prevail are light ; they also are 

 most apt to fail at the critical moment when the vessel is at the 

 entrance of the narrow passage through the reefs, in which case the 

 current, which rushes strongly out and sometimes across the passage, 

 may cause a vessel to drift upon the western reef. The proper mode 

 of guarding against this, is to keep the vessel as close as possible to 

 the eastern reef. 



* The chart of these harbours will be found in the Hydrographical Atlas. 



