104 



HYDROGRAPHY. 



need ; the natives are willing to trade for them, notwithstanding the 

 scarcity. I do not consider them friendly. Although Byron was dis- 

 appointed in procuring supplies for his vessel, yet these islands offer full 

 as much for the sustenance of life, as the other islands of the group. 



Wytoohee is five miles and a half in length, and its greatest breadth 

 two miles. The lagoon is shallow, and has many coral knolls that 

 are above water, on some of which there is a scanty vegetation. 



Otooho lies 12 miles west-northwest and is in sight from Wytoohee. 

 It is a little over a mile square. It has no lagoon, and is well wooded. 



TAIARA, OR KING'S ISLAND. 



Taiara was first placed on our charts. We discovered it in 1839. 

 I called it King's Island before knowing the native name. It is 

 nearly round, with a lagoon in the centre, is 7 miles in circumference, 

 has no outlet to its lagoon, and little reef on its leeward side, owing to 

 its being protected from the southwest swell of the Pacific, by the 

 Islands of Raraka and Kawahe. There are cocoanut palms on it in 

 groves. It appeared to have been often frequented by the natives, for 

 pearl-fishing, of which the lagoon affords a large supply. 



RARAKA ISLAND. 



Raraka was discovered in 1831. It is a low coral lagoon island, in 

 the form of a triangle, its northern side trending east and west 12 

 miles, and the southeast and southwest sides are 11 miles : while the 

 former is covered with trees, the two latter are submerged, and appear 

 like extensive reefs. On the north side there is an opening into the 

 lagoon, through which a small vessel may enter. The lagoon is very 

 deep, and the sea often very rough. This island has some temporary 

 inhabitants, produces cocoanuts and Pandanus, and is a good station 

 for the pearl fishery. We found the natives inoffensive and kind. 



KAWAHE, OR VINCENNES ISLAND. 



Kawahe we claim as a discovery of the Expedition, in 1839. In its 

 form it is nearly oval, and some 36 miles in circuit; when off Raraka, a 

 high clump of trees on it is in sight, which has the appearance of a round 

 hill. The rim of coral is very narrow, and the lagoon deep and as 



