CHAPTER XVIII 



Tahiti and New Zealand 



Pass through the Low Archipelago — Tahiti — Aspect — Vegetation on 

 the Mountains — View of Eimeo — Excursion into the Interior — 

 Profound Ravines — Succession of Waterfalls — Number of wild 

 useful Plants — Temperance of the Inhabitants — Their moral state 

 — Parliament convened — New Zealand — Bay of Islands — Hippahs 

 — Excursion to Waimate — Missionary Establishment — English 

 Weeds now run wild — Waiomio — Funeral of a New Zealand 

 Woman — Sail for Australia. 



OCTOBER 20th. — The survey of the Galapagos Archi- 

 pelago being concluded, we steered towards Tahiti 

 and commenced our long passage of 3200 miles. In 

 the course of a few days we sailed out of the gloomy and 

 clouded ocean-district which extends during the winter far 

 from the coast of South America. We then enjoyed bright 

 and clear weather, while running pleasantly along at the 

 rate of 150 or 160 miles a day before the steady trade-wind. 

 The temperature in this more central part of the Pacific is 

 higher than near the American shore. The thermometer in 

 the poop cabin, by night and day, ranged between 8d and 

 83 0 , which feels very pleasant; but with one degree or two 

 higher, the heat becomes oppressive. We passed through 

 the Low or Dangerous Archipelago, and saw several of 

 those most curious rings of coral land, just rising above the 

 water's edge, which have been called Lagoon Islands. A 

 long and brilliantly white beach is capped by a margin of 

 green vegetation; and the strip, looking either way, rapidly 

 narrows away in the distance, and sinks beneath the horizon. 

 From the mast-head a wide expanse of smooth water can be 

 seen within the ring. These low hollow coral islands bear 

 no proportion to the vast ocean out of which they abruptly 

 rise; and it seems wonderful, that such weak invaders are 

 not overwhelmed, by the all-powerful and never-tiring waves 

 of that great sea, miscalled the Pacific. 



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