POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
413 
extended their verdant branches^ while the groves of 
stately bread-fruity and the clumps of umbrageous callo- 
phyllum^ or tamanu trees^ and the tall and gracefully wav¬ 
ing cocoa-nuts^ shaded the different parts of the shore. 
The district of JFa-re, bordering the harbour of the 
same name^ is about a mile and a half^ or two miles^ in 
length, and reaches from the shore to the centre of 
the island. It is bounded on the south by a range of 
mountains separating it from the district of Haapape, 
and on the north by the small district of Buaoa, whence a 
long, bleak point of land, called the Faaao, extending a 
considerable distance into the sea, and covered with tall 
cocoa-nut trees, adds much to the beauty of the shore, 
and the security of the harbour. A ridge of inferior 
hills divides the district in the centre, and it greatly 
increases the picturesque appearance of its scenery. A 
small river rises on the northern side of this ridge, and, 
flowing along the boundary between the two districts, 
meets the sea exactly opposite the northern entrance. 
Another stream, more broad and rapid, rises at the head 
of the principal valley, and flows in a circuitous 
course to the southern part of the bay. The district is 
well watered and wooded. The lower hills, at the time 
of our arrival, were clothed with verdure, and the 
mountains in the centre of the island, whose summits 
appeared to penetrate the clouds, were often entirely 
covered with trees. All was rich and luxuriant in 
vegetation, but it was the richness and the luxuriance 
of a wilderness | scarcely a trace of human culture 
could be seen, yet I could but think the scene 
How fair, 
Were it but from sin refined; 
Man how free, how happy here, 
Were he pure as God is kind.’^ 
