18 
POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES, 
appearance of the mountains, and the rich verdure 
of the plains. 
The outline of the mountains of Eimeo, and 
much of the low land, may, when the weather is 
clear, be distinctly seen from Tahiti. 
Moorea is the name most frequently given by 
the natives to the island of Eimeo, which is 
situated about twelve or fourteen miles west 
from Tahiti. In the varied forms its mountains 
exhibit, the verdure with which they are clothed, 
and the general rpmantic and beautiful cha¬ 
racter of its scene^, this island surpasses every 
other in the Georgian or Society groups. The 
reef of coral which, like a ring, surrounds it, is 
in some places one or two miles distant from the 
shore, in others united to the beach. Several small 
and verdant islands adorn the reef: one lies 
opposite the district of Afareaitu on the eastern 
side; and two others, a few miles south of Papetoai; 
the latter are covered with the elegantly growing 
casuarina, or aito-trees, and were a favourite 
retreat of Pomare the Second. Eimeo is not only 
distinguished by its varied and beautiful natural 
scenery, but also by the excellence of its har¬ 
bours, which are better than those in any of the 
other islands. 
On the north side isTaloo harbour, in lat. 17° 30' 
south, long. 150° west: one of the most secure and 
delightful anchoring places to be met with in the 
Pacific ; Opunohu is the proper name of this har¬ 
bour ; near the mouth of which, on the right-hand 
side, there is a small rock, called by the natives 
Tareu, towards which, it is possible, Captain Cook 
was pointing, or looking, when he inquired of the 
natives the name of the harbour his ship was then 
entering. Tareu might be easily understood as if 
