52 TAHITI AND EIMEO. 



five thousand feet, where they stood upon a platform about twelve feet 

 square ; thence they looked down eastward two thousand feet into the 

 Matavai Valley ; to the westward they had a gorge about a thousand 

 feet deep running into Toanoa Valley ; to the south, the platform on 

 which they stood was united by a narrow ridge with Mount Aorai, 

 which was apparently only a short distance before them. In this place 

 they were compelled to pass the night, by a fog which enveloped them, 

 through which the guides were unwilling to lead them, refusing to pro- 

 ceed further along the dangerous path until the clouds should clear 

 away. 



The next morning was clear, and they pursued their ascending route 

 along the edge of a ridge not more than two or three feet in width, 

 having on each side an abyss two thousand feet deep. Seen from this 

 ridge, looking south, Mount Aorai seemed a conical peak, but as it 

 was approached it proved to be a mountain wall, whose edge was 

 turned towards them. The only ascent was by a similar narrow 

 path between precipices, and surpassed in steepness those they had 

 already passed. The width of the crest seldom exceeded two feet, 

 and in some cases they sat upon it as if on horseback, or were com- 

 pelled to creep along it upon their hands and knees, clinging to the 

 bushes. At last they reached the summit, where they found barely 

 room to turn around. The ridge continued for only a short distance 

 beyond them, being then cut across by the Punaania Valley. 



From the summit of Aorai they had a magnificent view; to the 

 south, it was speedily bounded by the peaks of Orohena and Pitohiti, 

 whose steep sides rose from the valley beneath them; to the east, 

 they had the rapid succession of ridge and gorge which characterizes 

 Tahitian scenery ; to the west, over a similar series of jagged ridges, 

 Eimeo and Tetuaroa stood out from the horizon of the sea in bold 

 relief; to the north, they looked down upon the plain, studded with 

 groves of cocoa-nut and orange, and upon the harbour with its ship- 

 ping, and the encircling reefs of coral. 



A short distance below the summit of Mount Aorai, a mass of turrets 

 and pinnacles, which from its singular outline is called the crown, 

 runs along the top of a narrow ledge. 



Except the plain of the coast, no level land is in sight but the valley 

 of Punaania ; this is divided from that of Matavai by a ridge of the 

 usual edge-like form, running upwards towards Orohena. 



Very few of the natives who are now alive have been on the summit 

 of Aorai ; their paths in this direction, as in other places, do not lead 

 beyond the limit of the groves of wild banana (fahie). Beyond the 



