288 SOCIETY ISLANDS. 
Punaavia* valleys. The first and last are quite broad, and contain 
the largest streams of the island; while, in the others, the including 
slopes continue converging to the very bed of the stream that runs 
between them. 
Papenoo Valley has a southerly course from the shore, and passes 
to the southward and eastward of the peak Orohena. For five miles 
the enclosing hills, though steep, have a partially rounded con- 
tour, but, beyond this, they stand with mural fronts, scarcely broken 
for six hundred or a thousand feet, except where some branch valley 
opens through them. Eight miles from the sea, we passed up one of 
these lateral valleys, and, after a while, reached a mountain amphi- 
theatre, such as we have described. Precipices of eight hundred feet 
rose before us and on either side, exuberantly covered with foliage, 
from amid which, at top, the rocks occasionally exposed a rugged 
summit. The torrent we had followed up was traced to a waterfall a 
thousand feet in perpendicular descent. 
The Matavai Valley, the next to the west, extends southerly, and is en- 
closed throughout by steep and lofty slopes. It isa vast cut through the 
mountains. Atits upper limits, the observer sees above him, on one side, 
the summit of Aorai, three thousand feet up, and, on the other, the 
still loftier Orohena: both with precipitous fronts, varying in inclina- 
tion from sixty to ninety degrees. These two mountains are united 
below by a ridge or wall of rock, elevated less than half their height, 
which wall constitutes the head of the valley, and separates it from 
the great Punaavia Valley.t+ 
* Pronounced Mattavy, Pappowah, Papaytay, Poohnahveah. We have named the 
valleys from the towns on the coast at their entrance. ‘The Punaavia appears to be the 
Bunaro of Tyerman and Bennett. 
+ There is an appearance of exaggeration even in the calmest statement with regard to 
the height and boldness of the ridges of Tahiti. We cite here, for additional informa- 
tion, a description of a view in the Matavai Valley, from Tyerman and Bennett, vol. i. p. 
101: ‘The mountains, on either hand, rise abruptly, and to a considerable altitude ; 
their sides are generally clothed with trees and bushes, which overhung our heads as we 
went, and closing or opening the scene of sky and valley, frequently presented the most 
singular and pleasing pictures. In several places, the crags towered perpendicularly from 
the bed of the torrent, five hundred feet or more, decorated with trees and shrubs, which, 
starting out of the fissures in their bold faces, seemed to grow in air, suspended and sup- 
ported of themselves. From the tops of these huge masses, the upper eminences sloped 
to a fearful elevation beyond, and appeared to hold their sunny peaks in the deep blue 
firmament. Throughout the whole valley, there are objects of grandeur and awe that 
overwhelm the beholder; and defy description.” 
