THE MALAY RACE. 



63 



peararice ; for it was flat-topped, some two hundred and fifty feet in 

 height, and seemingly inaccessible ; the mural cliff being in many 

 places, actually undermined by the surf. The island, notwithstand- 

 ing, proved to be exclusively composed of coral. It is called Metia, 

 and is situated within a day's sail of Taheiti. 



On coasting around in boats, it was perceived that the cliff did not 

 everywhere rise directly out of the sea ; but on one side, a narrow 

 intervening beach afforded a landing-place. The natives assisted in 

 drawing up the boats. They were upwards of three hundred in num- 

 ber, living in the midst of abundance ; and we experienced from them 

 all the kindness and hospitality attributed to the Taheitians of the 

 olden time. At first indeed, we were disposed to class them with the 

 Taheitians; but there were some large double canoes on the strand, 

 insufficient, however, to receive the whole population. Several of the 

 men could speak some words of English ; and more than one of them 

 wished to be taken on board. Their houses were at the base of the 

 cliff; but a paved path was constructed to the summit; where we 

 found a fertile soil, and first met with the usual objects of Polynesian 

 cultivation. 



Other islands in the Paumotu Archipelago, were subsequently 

 visited by the Porpoise ; but for the account of them, I must refer to 

 the fourth volume of the Narrative. 



d. Other Coral Groups. 



The coral islands, subsequently visited by the Vincennes, were 

 uninhabited; but as all these Oceanic resting-places and their re- 

 sources, claim attention, I will insert some notices of them. 



I landed on Bellmghause?i Island ; which is quite small, only some 

 three or four miles in diameter, and is situated to the westward of the 

 Taheitian Group. No traces of natives were discovered ; but the sea- 

 birds breeding in numbers, the large fishes in the pools of the coral- 

 shelf, and the fearlessness of the sharks in the lagoon, all betokened 

 the absence of a general disturbing cause. On my first landing on 

 a coral island, I was about seizing a spotted eel (Mursena), coiled 

 in a small cavity ; when Sac, our New Zealand sailor, held my hand, 

 with a friendly warning. Here, however, some of large size did not 

 always wait for the attack ; and a bite, like the cut of a hatchet, was 



