3 44 
A VOYAGE TO 
177'- tends good weather ; but, if it has a fharp found, and 
the waves fucceed each other fail, that the reverfe will 
happen. 
Perhaps there is fcarcely a fpot in the univerfe that af¬ 
fords a more luxuriant profpedt than the South Eaft part of 
Otaheite. The hills are high and fteep; and, in many 
places, craggy. But they are covered to the very fummits 
with trees and lhrubs, in fuch a manner, that the fpedfator 
can fcarcely help thinking, that the very rocks poffefs the 
property of producing and fupporting their verdant cloth¬ 
ing. The flat land which bounds thole hills toward the fea, 
and the interjacent valleys alfo, teem with various produc¬ 
tions that grow with the molt exuberant vigour; and, at 
once, fill the mind of the beholder with the idea, that no 
place upon earth can outdo this, in the ftrength and beauty 
of vegetation. Nature has been no lefs liberal in diftributing 
rivulets, which are found in every valley; and as they ap¬ 
proach the fea, often divide into two or three branches, 
fertilizing the flat lands through which they run. The 
habitations of the natives are fcattered, without order, upon 
thefe flats; and many of them appearing toward the fliore, 
prefented a delightful fcene, viewed from our fhips; elpe- 
cially as the fea, within the reef, which bounds the coaff, 
is perfectly hill, and affords a fafe navigation, at all times, 
for the inhabitants; who are often feen paddling in their 
canoes indolently along, in palling from'place to place, or 
in going to filh. On viewing thefe charming fcenes, I 
have often regretted my inability to tranfmit to thofe who 
have had no opportunity of feeing them, fuch a defcrip- 
tion as might, in fome meafure, convey an impreflion 
fimilar to what muff be felt by every one who' has been 
fortunate enough to be upon the fpot. 
It 
