116 



HYDROGRAPHY. 



danger, until deep water is found, which is said to exist at the western 

 end of the shoal, in the proximity of Point Venus. I should deem it 

 better, however, if the sea is not high, to cross the shoal at any point 

 some distance from its centre, as the water, for an ordinary sized ship, 

 will be found sufficient. The reef is from half to three-quarters of a 

 mile wide, and as the sea seldom breaks on it, is particularly danger- 

 ous to vessels running along for Point Venus, when they have closed 

 with the land to the eastward. 



There is another shoal, called Tecalai, lying off the Valley of 

 Tecalai, which, though more dangerous, is at the same time more out 

 of the track of vessels. It becomes necessary to notice it, as vessels 

 sometimes make the land to the eastward, in thick and cloudy 

 weather. This shoal, like the former, lies parallel with and about 

 3 miles from the shore, with a clear passage inside : there is a good 

 channel between the two. On its shoalest place there is but 2% 

 fathoms ; like the other it seldoms breaks. It is half a mile wide 

 and 5 miles in length. The marks by which the position of the 

 shoalest part may be known are, the high peak on Tiarabu on with 

 the two small islands of Bovulou and Taawirri, bearing south-south- 

 east half east, and a remarkable black mould hill, near the beach, 

 nearly perpendicular, bearing northwest half west. The water is deep 

 at both ends. 



In the survey which we made of the harbors of Tahiti, our opera- 

 tions did not go east of Point Venus : my time would not admit of 

 any extension in that direction. Captain Kotzebue, of the Russian 

 Navy, in the year 1824, extended his survey a short distance to the 

 eastward of Matavai Bay, and has named a small harbor on the east 

 side of Point Venus formed by an islet, Port Papeiti : this is liable to 

 lead to error, as the true Port Papeiti is several miles to the west- 

 ward, and I am satisfied his name was adopted without due consi- 

 deration ; or perhaps the port of Papeiti to the westward was unknown 

 to him. This small port, if it deserves the name, is, when compared 

 with any of those to the westward, totally unfit for anchorage, being 

 more exposed to all the winds than either of the others, and of 

 course less secure. 



The tides of Tahiti have little rise or fall, and apparently are not 

 under the usual influences : they are generally affected by the trade- 

 winds, which cause the anomalies that have been noted. They will be 

 noticed in their proper place. I would call the attention of navigators 



