SURROUNDING ISLETS. 
23 
water; and, if any, only small and frequently 
interrupted streams flow into the sea. The aper¬ 
tures in the coral beds around the larger islands, 
not only afford direct access to the indentations in 
the coast, and the mouths of the valleys, which form 
the best harbours, but secure to shipping a supply 
of fresh water, in equal, if not greater abundance, 
than it could be procured in any other part of the 
island. The circumstance, also, of the rivers near 
the harbours flowing into the sea, affords the 
greatest facility in procuring fresh water, which is 
so valuable to seamen. 
These breaches in the reefs, in many places, 
especially at Papete, or Wilks’ Harbour, in Tahiti 
and Afareaitu, in Moorea Fare, in Huahine, and 
along the eastern side of Raiatea and Tahaa, are 
not only serviceable to navigation, but highly 
ornamental, and contribute much 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 extremity 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 Mission¬ 
ary 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 favour ^ 
able wind, may be often seen. Two large and 
very charming islands adorn the entrance at Toma- 
hahotu, leading to the island of Tahaa. The 
largest of these is not more than half a mile in 
