4 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
into the sea, affords the greatest facility in procuring 
fresh water, which is so valuable to seamen. 
The openings in the reef, on the eastern side of 
Raiatea, are not only serviceable to navigation, but 
highly ornamental, adding greatly to the beauty of the 
surrounding scenery. At the Ava Moa, or Sacred Entrance 
leading to Opoa, there is a small island, on which a few 
cocoa-nut trees are growing. At Tipaemau there are two, 
one on each side of the opening, rising from the ex¬ 
tremity of the line of reef. The little islets, elevated 
three or four feet above the water, are clothed with 
shrubs and verdure, and adorned with a number of lofty 
cocoa-nut trees. At Te-Avapiti, several miles to the 
northward of Tipaemau, and opposite the Missionary 
settlement—where, as its name indicates, are two 
openings—there are also two beautiful, green, and woody 
islands, on which the lowly hut of the fisherman, or of 
the voyager waiting for a favourable wind, may be 
often seen. Two large and very charming islands 
adorn the entrance at Tomahahotu, leading to the island 
of Tahaa. The largest of these is not more than half 
a mile in circumference, but both are covered with fresh 
and evergreen shrubs and trees. 
Detached from the large islands, and viewed in con¬ 
nexion with the ocean rolling through the channel on 
the one side, or the foaming billows dashing, and 
roaring, and breaking over the reef on the other, they 
appear like emerald gems of the ocean, contrasting their 
solitude and verdant beauty with the agitated element 
sporting in grandeur around. They are useful, as well as 
ornamental. The tall cocoa-nuts that grow on their 
surface, can be seen many miles distant; and the native 
mariner is thereby enabled to steer directly towards 
