ASH TTT, 291 
and a climb on the opposite side of the valley were undertaken, and, 
although the sides were nearly perpendicular, it was accomplished 
without much difficulty by clinging from tree to tree, with the 
assistance of ropes, at times, where the mural front was otherwise 
impassable. By noon of the second day, we had reached an elevation 
of five thousand feet and stood on an area twelve feet square, the sum- 
mit of an isolated crest in the ridge on which we were travelling. ‘T’o 
the east, we looked down two thousand feet into the Matavai Valley ; 
to the west, a thousand feet into the branch of the Papaua Valley, 
the slopes, either way, being from seventy to eighty degrees, or within 
twenty degrees of perpendicular. On the side of our ascent, and be- 
yond, on the opposite side, our peak was united with the adjoining 
summit by a thin ridge, reached by a steep descent of three hundred 
feet. ‘This ridge was described by our natives as no wider at top 
than a man’s arm, and a fog coming on, they refused to attempt it 
that day. The next morning being clear, we pursued our course. 
For a hundred rods, the ridge on which we walked was two to four 
feet wide, and from it, we looked down on either side a thousand feet 
or more of almost perpendicular descent. Beyond this, the ridge 
continued narrow, though less dangerous, until we approached the 
high peak of Aorai. This peak had appeared to be conical and 
equally accessible on different sides, but it proved to have but one 
place of approach, and that along a wall with precipices of two to 
three thousand feet, and seldom exceeding two feet in width at top. 
In one place we sat on it as on the back of a horse, for 1t was no wider, 
and pushed ourselves along till we reached a spot where its width was 
doubled to two feet, and numerous bushes again affording us some 
security, we dared to walk erect. We at last stood perched on the 
summit edge, not six feet broad. The ridge continued beyond for a 
short distance, with the same sharp, knife-edge character, and was 
then broken off by the Punaavia Valley. Our height afforded a near 
view of Orohena: it was separated from us only by the Valley of Ma- 
tavai, from whose profound depths it rose with nearly erect sides. The 
peak has a saddle shape, and the northern of the two points is called 
Pitohiti.* These summits, and the ridge which stretches from them 
toward Matavai, intercept the view to the southward. In other direc- 
tions, the rapid succession of gorge and ridge that characterizes 
Tahitian scenery, was open before us. At the western foot of Aorai, 
* Pronounced Pée-to-heé-tee. 
