SOCIETY ISLANDS. 



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flowed. Natives may be employed to fill the casks, being expert and 

 faithful in their labor ; it is necessary, however, for an officer to 

 superintend them. Wood can be purchased here for four dollars a 

 cord, of the chief, who brings it to the beach, and there piles it. 



The bay is surrounded by a beautiful beach, extending from Point 

 Venus to the foot of One Tree Hill. A boat, in the fine season, may 

 land on any part of it without difficulty, but from December to March 

 it becomes difficult at times to communicate with the shore. 



The harbor of Papaoa lies next to Matavai Bay on the west. It is 

 formed by coral reefs, and though small is well sheltered ; the entrance 

 lies on the east. There is plenty of water for a large vessel, but the 

 passages, though not intricate, are narrow. The only way to navigate 

 through them is to choose a moderate breeze, and have a good look- 

 out from aloft. The best anchorage is off Queen Pomare's house, 

 in from 7 to 12 fathoms water, which is near the watering-place. 

 The reefs afford the harbor all the protection from the sea that 

 could be desired. There is a passage through to the harbor of 

 Toanoa, lying to the west, but the turn through the reefs off Alaheda 

 Point is very short, narrow, and difficult to pass. The chart of this 

 harbor shows the channel more clearly than any description. 



The fine harbor of Toanoa has an entrance of much greater width, 

 and is consequently much safer than that of Papaoa. There are some 

 coral rocks lying off the east point of the reef at the entrance : care 

 must be taken to avoid these ; and vessels bound in, after opening the 

 mouth of the harbor, have only to haul up for the houses on the 

 beach, on a south-southeast course, where they can anchor in from 6 

 to 10 fathoms water. Toanoa is more exposed to the north than 

 Papaoa, and a heavy sea rolls in, which renders it uncomfortable for a 

 vessel in the bad season. The bottom is good holding-ground, black 

 sand, with mud. The watering-place is convenient, though attended 

 with some difficulty in consequence of the coral which forms the 

 beach. There is a deep and broad passage between this harbor and 

 that of Papeiti, a mile and a half in length, and suitable for any class 

 of vessels, though all navigation among coral islands and shoals re- 

 quires great attention : it is not to be disregarded in this case. The 

 entrance into the channel from Toanoa is narrow, but the passage 

 between the coral shoals is readily perceived. The best course is to 

 keep close to the outer reef, whose edge is for the most part well de- 

 fined ; but this passage should not be attempted in the afternoon, 



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