BO Tha PoryoUc sails fur Lhu TAHITI AND ELM CO. S.iinunti ur Navigator'* tirooo. 



2 P.M. Here they found a guide, and were, in- I 

 formed that the stream was mueh Hwollen : they 

 however determined to go forward, and were ac- 

 companied by a troop of hoys and girls with 

 flowers. Before they Iiad proceeded far, they 

 reached a place whore it was necessary to ford the 

 stream, which they found difficult on account of 

 the rapidity, although tlie water was only three 

 feet deep. Other fords of the same description 

 occurred every few rods, until they at hist reached 

 one in which the water reached to their necks. 

 This was of course dangerous to those who could 

 not swim, but all crossed in safety. A young 

 native, as if in derision of the difficulty which they 

 appeared to experience, and of their effeminato 

 bringing up, dashed into the flood, and was seen 

 plunging down the rapid* in sport, and evidently 

 with great enjoyment, although frequently wholly 

 immersed in the foam. 



When they reached tlie edge of the lake, their 

 guides constructed a hut, in which they passed the 

 night. The next day Lieutenant Emmons made 

 a survey of the lake, and sounded its depth from a 

 raft. It was found to be half a mile in length, a 

 third of a mile in breadth, and in shape nearly 

 oval. The depth in the middle was ninety-six 

 feet, whence it gradually decreases to the edge. 

 It had mined the whole of the preceding night, 

 and the lake was observed lo rise nlx>ut five feet 

 in twenty hours. As far as could be discovered, 

 it lias no outlet ; but the natives assert that if a 

 bread-fruit In.- thrown into the water, it will make 

 its appearance at a spring, which gushes from ilie 

 hill-side, about two miles north of Oooigarra, and 



; near the sea. The height of the surface of tlie 

 lake, measured by the sympiesornoter, is about one 

 thousand seven hundred feet above the level of the 

 sea. 



Most of the vessels that visit Tahiti are those 

 belonging to our whaling fleet : these average less 

 than a hundred annually. From ihcm the natives 

 are enabled to dispose of some of the supplies ihr-y 

 raise, and in return obtain such articles as will 

 promote their comfort and add to their pleasure. 

 The whale-ships, for the most part, have articles of 

 trade which they barter with the natives, so that 

 little money is required to carry on their business. 

 The natives, particularly the chiefs, are however 

 well acquainted with tlie value of money. 



Tlie few other vessels that visit the islands 

 bring tittle cargo ; if two arrive at the same time 

 they destroy each other's ventures by glutting the 

 market. 



The pearl-shell fishery of the Paumotti Group 

 centres here. I was told it was principally in the 

 hands of the French consul. For few a years be- 

 fore our arrival, viz. from I&12 to \H'M, it had 

 been very productive. The amount obtained was 

 about nine hundred tons, which was estimated 

 to be valued at 45,(100 to AO.OOO dollars ; the 

 greater part of this woh sent to France. Of the 

 agricultural products they have little to dispose of 

 as yet ; ueither is the island susceptible of any 

 very extended operations, to induce vessels to 

 visit it exclusively for its trad© or production*. 

 The three chief articles of production ore sugar, 

 cocoa-nut oil, and arrow-root. 



CHAPTER. XII. 

 TAHITI AND EIMEO. 



nr» porpoise sails for the samoa* or j*avioatos'« ennctr— afflicatiov from "jik" the pilot— the 

 • -■ -■ > % procerus to r a i'i 1. 1 1 — interview with mi BJUtSMl — uxxeral rnemr — uitoti, a t» a ti v k 



CHIEF— GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURE or TA IUTI— V1LLAO E AM' BAT OP I APIETI— COM V EECE OK rATlETl— rOI-lT- 

 LA7IOH OF TAHITI— DISEASES— CRIMINAL TRIAL— CULTIVATION— USEPUL FLAKTI — ASCENT OF MOUNT AORAl — 



assume or fossils us Tahiti mquktains— manufactures of Tahiti— remakes oh tiir covnvcr or 



PORKIOK VISITOR*— «ALE OF A II I'I. M 8T1 HITS— Til K ATH.IC A LS BY TUB CHEW OF TM PR ACOCK— VIHCEXXES 

 ■ AILS FOE EIMEO— REktOEKCX OF MX. IIXFKQK AT KIM ED— SCHOOL FOH THE CUILURER OF MISSIONARIES— 

 CtlAEACTEE OF THE K ATIYRS— SUPPLIES TO IE PROCURED TUERE — V I LL AGES — ICG AB PLANTATION! — VoR 

 SCHARTZ's CI1ABT OF TA LOO II A RBOVB— COXCLUSIOK. 



The Porpoise, having been refitted, was sent to 

 Bcaontlic 20th September, Hilty, (■„,• t |„- pm-jutse 

 of again visiting the west end of Nairsa or Dean's 

 Island, with Kruscnstern's and Lazareff. She was 

 also ordered to pass over the supposed locality of 

 Recreation Island, and then to meet the Vjjiceunes 

 at Hose Island, the easternmost of the Sonioau or 

 Navigator's (.Iroup. 



A stormy evening having occurred previous to 

 our leaving Matavai Day, ** Jim," the pilot, desired 

 to flit? me ; on his coming into the cabin, ru my 

 great amusement, ho urged me to allow him to go 

 to Papieti, where he \v:is sure hi; woutd Ih* wanted; 

 and when I asked fur what purpose, he told me 

 that the " thunder nutl lightning would bring in 

 ships of war." lie was displeased w hen I laughed 



and said, that as he was engaged on board my ship, 

 I would wait until I saw the ships before I could 

 give him permission. Ho then reminded me of 

 the night before we arrived, when there was plenty 

 of thunder and lightning, and that he had told me 

 as soon as he came on hoard that he expected us. 

 He went on to rejieat that he was sure tliat they 

 would want him early in the morning at Papieti, 

 but I persisted in my refusal ; and in the morning 

 he appeared much disconcerted to find that there 

 was nothing in sight out of which he could make a 

 ship of war. 



The Vhiccnnes moved to the harbour of Fapicti 

 on the 22nd September. At the same time, orders 

 were given to the Peacock and Flying-Fish to 

 take on board their articles from Point Venus, 



