SOCIETY ISLANDS. 



115 



and without difficulty, and supplies of all kinds are readily procured. 

 Being the residence of the Queen and foreign consuls, all the trade 

 centres here. 



At Papeiti there are many supplies to be had in the way of repairs, 

 and what the place does not itself afford may, in all probability, 

 be obtained from whalers, or the men-of-war that are met with in the 

 port. It has, however, one great disadvantage, in being deprived of the 

 trade-wind, being too far under the lee of the island to be benefited by 

 it ; the heat consequently is at times intolerable and very enervating, 

 while in the harbors to windward the temperature is very much 

 modified, and in comparison invigorating ; on this account I should 

 advise vessels merely stopping to refresh their crews, and not requiring 

 repairs, to visit one of the windward harbors : of these, I should prefer 

 Toanoa. 



The position of the small island of Motuutu, on which there is a 

 small fort, renders the harbor of Papeiti susceptible of being well 

 defended from an attack by sea, but the place is not tenable from an 

 assault by land. 



There is an extensive shoal to the eastward of Point Venus, on 

 which the French frigate Artemise struck. 



This northeastern reef extends from li miles east half north, of 

 Point Venus to abreast of the Valley of Hapaino, which is distant 

 about 10 miles from Point Venus. It is detached from the land, and 

 for the most part lies parallel with the shore, except near its centre, 

 where it deviates to the north-northeast, for about a quarter or half 

 a mile. The soundings on it decrease very regularly ; the centre is 

 the shoalest part; from thence they gradually increase from 3 to 12 

 fathoms, all coral bottom. On or near the centre, which lies directly 

 off a remarkable table-land, it has for a considerable distance from 3 

 to 4 2 fathoms. On the eastern side the shoal trends for a short dis- 

 tance to the south-southeast, south, and southwest. The outer part 

 of the reef is about 3 miles from the shore. When on its centre Point 

 Venus will just be on with the high peak of Eimeo, bearing west-by- 

 south three-quarters south. To avoid this shoal, all that is necessary 

 is to keep the bearing of Point Venus to the south of west-southwest. 

 The passage inside leads to no shelter or harbor ; and every precau- 

 tion ought to be taken to avoid getting within it. If, however, a 

 vessel should by any chance find herself there, she may continue her 

 course to the westward, as the passage is perfectly safe and free from 



