Rapa : the Forgotten. 
3 2 5 
From March till November the ocean about 
Rapa is always smooth. Boats and canoes may 
paddle along the very edge of the outer reef, for 
there is seldom any surf, only a gentle heaving 
motion like that which agitates the waters of a 
wide coral lagoon when the tide flows in over 
the coral reef. Why this is so is not known ; 
no other island in either the North or South 
Pacific presents a similar phenomenon. Perhaps 
the enormous depth of water which is obtained 
even within a few fathoms of the shore may 
have something to do with it; but then Pitcairn 
Island has this feature—depth of water—but 
one seldom sees a surfless day at Pitcairn. 
But placid as the outside ocean may be for 
eight months out of twelve, Ahurei Harbour is 
a treacherous spot. Sudden and savage squalls 
come humming down from the grim moun¬ 
tain passes and the air is filled with leaves and 
broken twigs. Perhaps a trading vessel is lying 
quietly at anchor, her cable hanging up and 
down in the currentless water right over her 
anchor. Suddenly a squall comes hurtling down 
and the schooner is whirled round and round 
like a humming top, and then brings up to her 
anchor with a terrific jerk. In five minutes the 
