330 
MISSIONARY TOUR 
all winds to the eastward of north-east. The bottom 
is good across the whole extent of the bay, but the 
western side is more exposed to the prevailing trade- 
winds. There is a shoal extending perhaps two miles 
from the above mentioned island. It is therefore neces¬ 
sary in going into the harbour to keep near the western 
shore, which is very bold ; the water is deep, and the 
passage free from rocks. There are three streams of 
fresh water, which empty themselves into the bay. 
One on the western angle is called Wairuku. It rises 
near the summit of Mouna-Kea, and, after taking a 
circuitous course for several miles, runs rapidly into 
the sea. Two others, called Wairama and Waiakea, 
rise in springs, boiling up through the hollows of the 
lava, at a short distance from the shore, fill several 
large fish-ponds, and afterwards empty themselves into 
the sea. Waiakea, on the eastern side of the bay, is 
tolerably deep, and is navigated by canoes and boats 
some distance inland. 
The face of the country in the vicinity of Waiakea is 
the most beautiful we have yet seen, which is probably 
occasioned by the humidity of the atmosphere, the fre¬ 
quent rains that fall here, and the long repose which the 
district has experienced from volcanic eruptions. The 
light and fertile soil is formed by decomposed lava, with 
a considerable portion of vegetable mould. The whole 
is covered with luxuriant vegetation, and the greater 
part of it formed into plantations, where plantains, ba¬ 
nanas, sugar-cane, taro, potatoes, and melons, grow to 
the greatest perfection. Groves of cocoa-nut and bread¬ 
fruit trees are seen in every direction loaded with fruit, 
or clothed with umbrageous foliage. The houses are 
mostly larger and better built than those of many dis- 
