68 THE ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC.

Georgian or Society groups. A reef, like a ring, ex-tends around it two miles from the shore. On thisreef are small verdant islets, appearing like emerald gemsof the ocean, one opposite Afareaitu on the east side, andtwo south of Papetoai.”

The author of“South Sea Bubbles” says:‘“ As seenfrom Tahiti , Moorea is a wonderfully beautiful island,peaked and jagged in a way seldom seen. The harbor,Openohu, is a gorge, and one of the wildest gorges Ihave ever seen. Green precipices rise upwards of twothousand feet sheer from the water, fringed round theirfeet by cocoanut and orange-trees. Far up in thegreen cliffs may be seen the large leaves of the fes, orwild plantain. One of the highest and most acute peaksis perforated right through, just below the summit, thenatives say by an ancient hero throwing his spearthrough the moutain peak.”

Several of the Leeward Islands are described as noless picturesque and beautiful. Huahine and Raiateaare noble islands encircled by one coral reef. In thisreef, at the northeast point of Raiatea, opposite theharbor, Utumaoro, are three green islets. Raiatea con-sists of two parts connected by an isthmus, and is com-pletely covered with verdure, from the sea to the sum-mits of the mountains; the hibiscus and other shrubsoverhanging the salt water of the harbor.

Of Borabora the writer just quoted says:‘‘Thissplendid island rises like a giant's castle out of the sea.At a distance it seems split into two parts, a tower anda steeple; but when approached the two blend into one.