AFRO-INDIAN REGIONS. 



233 



The Lepidium, Morinda, Digitaria, and Psilotum were absent : the 

 remaining species of plants observed on Taiara coral-island were 

 all found growing on Ahii ; and notwithstanding a careful search, we 

 were unable to discover a single additional species: 



Acliyranthes ; bis (No. 1 Clermont-Tonnerre to Aratika coral-island).* 

 Procris ? ; bis (No. 1 Raraka and Aratika coral-islands). 



11. Rairoa, or Dean's coral-island. On the 8th, the daytime was 

 chiefly spent in sailing along Rairoa ; the largest of the coral-islands, 

 and according to our measurement " sixty-six miles in length ;" for 

 the greater part of this distance, presenting the novel spectacle of two 

 narrow ruler-like parallel bands of land stretching along interminably. 

 The only variation being, that in a few places the rim of land was so 

 low as to be a wash, or perhaps altogether overflowed. The Western 

 extreme was found to be in about " S. Lat. 15° 05' and W. Long. 

 147° 59'." 



The rim of land-surface was narrow throughout, and the vegetable 

 growth seemed scanty and uninteresting. As examined with a glass 

 from the ship's deck, I could discover no plant of a different aspect 

 from those we had already met with on coral-islands. "f" 



12. TiKEHAU, or Krusenstern coral-island. Towards sunset, the 

 Vincennes passed the Western end of Rairoa and came in sight of 

 Tikehau ; another large coral-island, nearly " thirteen miles" distant. 

 Night came on before we could get near Tikehau; and the ship turn- 

 ing Southward, we took leave of the Paumotu archipelago of low 

 coral-islands. 



h. BeUirigJiausen Coral- Island. 



To complete the account of the low coral-islands of the Pacific, it 

 will be necessary to anticipate here some portions of our Voyage. 



* Cocos nucifera; bis (Clermont-Tonnerre to Kawaki coral-island). A grove of cocoa- 

 palms, indicated the visits of Polynesians; (of which indeed, we had already obtained 

 at Manhii direct evidence). 



■}" Cocos nucifera ; bis (Clermont-Tonnerre to Ahii coral-island). Cocoa-palms occurred 

 rather frequently j yet the island seemed chiefly uninhabited; we saw only four natives, 

 who came towards us in two small canoes. 



Pandanus; bis (No. 1 Clermont-Tonnerre to Aratika coral-island). Frequent. 



