DISTRICT OF WAIAKEA. 337 
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 men¬ 
tioned island. It is therefore necessary, 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 after¬ 
wards 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 frequent rains that fall here, 
and the long repose which the district has ex¬ 
perienced from volcanic eruptions. 
The district of Waiakea, though it does not 
include more than half the bay, is yet extensive. 
Kukuwau in the middle of the bay is its western 
boundary, from which, passing along the eastern 
side, it extends ten or twelve miles towards Kaau, 
the last district in the division of Puna. 
Taking every circumstance into consideration, 
this appears a most eligible spot for a Missionary 
station. The fertility of the soil, the abundance 
of fresh water, the convenience of the harbour, the 
iv. z 
