508 



DISCOVERIES OTAHEITE. 



Nov, 



which it is known to the islanders of the archipelago. A few 

 hours afterwards we ranged along the shore of another and 

 much larger island, or rather group of islets, till then not laid 

 down in any chart, the native name of which is Cavahi. We 

 saw a number of islets covered with cocoa-nut trees, surround- 

 ing a lagoon ; but could not delay to examine the south side, 

 because we had been so unexpectedly detained by contrary 

 winds, and I was very anxious about the chronometer mea- 

 surement, the interval being already considerable. 



Hastening on, therefore, we passed between the Elizabeth 

 and Wittgenstein (or Faarava) groups, which are similar to 

 Cavahi in appearance, and carried a press of sail to reach the 

 Society Islands. It was singular that directly we were clear of 

 the Low Islands, we got into a steady trade- wind, such as we 

 had enjoyed before seeing Honden Island ; and were no more 

 troubled by westerly wind, or squalls, till long after we had 

 left Otaheite* and were approaching near New Zealand. 



15th. Early this morning we saw Otaheite; but clouds 

 hanging over the high land and a haziness about the horizon, 

 at first disappointed our expectations. As the sun rose higher, 

 the clouds shrunk away, vanishing as they rolled along the 

 grandly formed mountains : high, sharp, irregular peaks, and 

 huge masses of rock appeared between the mists, and again were 

 hidden— deep vallies or glens showed darkly, and while the 

 shadows passed, seemed to be denied the light of day. Strik- 

 ingly different in appearance were the lower hills and dales, 

 and the richly wooded land at the sea- side. There the bright 

 sunshine heightened the vivid and ever-varying tints of a rich 

 verdure. The beautiful alternation of light and shade, each 

 moment changing as the flitting shadows passed over every kind 



* Some diversity of opinion has arisen respecting- the spelling of this 

 name. No person now doubts that Tahiti is the native word, and there- 

 fore the most correct to be used when talking to Poljmesian islanders, or 

 writing for them ; but as our immortal countryman, Cook, wrote Ota- 

 heite, and it is difficult to hear or see the word without thinking of him, 

 I shall beg to be allowed the same privilege that Frenchmen claim when 

 writing * Londres,' or Englishmen when they write * Sicily ;' and for the 

 future use only the word Otaheite. 



