PAUMOTU GROUP. 



103 



It is a lagoon island, lying west-northwest and east-southeast, 10 

 miles in length, by 1? in width ; it is 12 feet above the sea, and its 

 rim 600 feet wide. There are cocoanut and Pandanus trees on it, 

 and a number of shrubs. It is inhabited; the natives, however, proved 

 hostile, and we had no communication with them. There is a boat- 

 opening into its lagoon on the southwest side. The reef from its 

 southeast point extends half a mile, on which the sea breaks ; and 

 from its northwest point there is another, but its extent is not over 

 two hundred yards. The north side is the most wooded, that on the 

 south being nearly a bare reef. 



SERLE'S ISLAND. 



Serle's Island is a low coral island, with a lagoon 7 miles in length 

 by li in width. It lies in a northwest and southeast direction. This 

 island is remarkable for having two large clumps of trees at each end, 

 which Wilson, who discovered it in 1797, took for hills. It affords 

 cocoanuts and Pandanus. The south side is for the most part free 

 of vegetation, while the extreme ends and north side are Avell covered 

 with trees and shrubs. It has no entrance for vessels into the lagoon. 



HENUAKE, OR HONDEN ISLAND. 



Henuake was discovered by Schouten and Le Maire, in 1G16. 

 It is a coral island, with a shallow lagoon in its centre, but no 

 entrance to it. In form it is oblong, its length being in a west-by- 

 north direction 7 miles, and width 4 miles. There are no cocoanut 

 palms on it, nor is there any water. At times there are turtle to be 

 found on the reef; but the landing is at best difficult. 



DISAPPOINTMENT ISLES. 



These islands were discovered by Byron, in 1765 ; there are two, 

 Wytoohee and Otooho. 



Wytoohee is a low coral island, of irregular form ; it lies nearly east 

 and west ; has a lagoon, but no entrance into it. The south side is 

 mostly a washed reef, and this is also the case with a part of the 

 northwest side. The eastern part is more w r ooded than the western. It 

 produces a few cocoanut palms, but not more than the inhabitants 



