ORIGIN OF HARBOURS. 117 
of North Tahiti, between Papieti, on the left, and Venus Point on 
the right. 
a. The harbour of Papieti is enclosed by a reef about three-fourths 
of a mile from the shore. The entrance through the reef is narrow, 
with a depth of eleven fathoms at centre, six to seven fathoms either 
side, and three to five close to the reef. This fine harbour receives an 
unimportant streamlet, while a much larger stream empties just to the 
east of the east cape, opposite which the reef is close at hand and un- 
broken. 
b. Toanoa is the harbour next east of Papieti. The entrance is 
thirty-five fathoms deep at middle, and three and a half to five fathoms 
near the points of reef. ‘There is no fresh-water stream, excepting a 
trifling rivulet. 
c. Papaoa is an open expanse of water, harbour-like in character, 
but is without any entrance; the reef is unbroken. Yet there are two 
streams emptying into it, one of which is of considerable size. 
d. Off Matavai, the place next east, the reef is interrupted for about 
two miles. The harbour is formed by an extension of the reef off 
Point Venus, the east cape. There is no stream on the coast, oppo- 
site this interruption in the reef, except towards Point Venus, and at 
the present time the waters find their principal exit, east of the 
Point, behind a large coral reef, but a quarter of a mile distant. 
From such facts, it would almost seem as if coral reefs grew best 
near fresh-water streams. We cannot be surprised at the little influ- 
ence they appear to have exerted when knowing that none of these 
so-called rivers are over three feet in depth ; and the most they can do 
is to produce a thin layer of brackish water over the sea within the 
channels. 
e. The annexed figure of the harbour of Falifa, Upolu, represents 
another coral harbour, as surveyed by Lieutenant 
Emmons. At its head there is a fine stream twenty- .. 
five or thirty yards wide, and three feet deep. Not- 
withstanding the unusual size of the river, the coral <|° 
reef lies near its mouth, and projects some distance i. 
in front of it. Its surface is dead, but corals are 
growing upon its outer slope. 
f. The harbour of Rewa, in the Feejees, may be 
again alluded to. ‘The waters received by the bay amount to at least 
500,000 cubic feet a minute. Yet there is an extensive reef enclosing 
the bay, lying but three miles from the shores, and with only two 
30 
BY 
\y 
HARBOUR OF FALIFA. 
