OTAHEITE, or Twill, an island in the Pacific Ocean, lying between 17' 28', and 17° 53' South latitude, and be tween 149' 10', and 40' West longitude from Green wich, consists of two peninsulas, united by an isthmus about three miles in breadth. The greater of' these is circular, and about twenty miles in diameter ; and the lat ter about sixteen miles long and twelve broad. Both are surrounded by a reef of coral rocks, and the whole island is about forty-four miles in circumference. A border of low land, seldom more than a mile in depth encircles the island. The interior is mountainous, and rises very high in the centre, but is intersected by a number of narrow valleys, which open from the coast. Innumerable streams fall from the hills, sometimes in beautiful cascades, and supply the river which flows through the valleys. In one of the inland districts is a large lake, which the natives say cannot be sounded by any line, and which contains eels of a monstrous size. From December to March the weather is squally and rainy, with the wind frequently from the west ; but during the rest of the year the wind is from the east, and the weather serene and pleasant. From March to August the thermometer was never below and sel dom above 73'. The climate is peculiarly healthy and de lightful.
The soil of the low maritime land, and of the valleys, is a rich blackish mould, remarkably fertile; but, in as cending the mountains, it changes into various veins of red, white, dark, yellow, and bluish earth. The stones exhibit every where the appearance of the action of fire ; and the island has evidently had a volcanic origin.
The mountains are in most places covered to the very with a variety of trees, or with bamboos of great length, or with reeds and fern. In some of the higher re gions is the precious sandal wood of two kinds, yellow and dark coloured, from which the natives draw the perfume for the cocoa-nut oil, with which they anoint themselves.
The more fertile spots, and even the mountainous dis tricts, are covered with various useful vegetable produc tions, most of which grow spontaneously and supply the natives with wholesome food. The most important of these are, the bread-fruit tree, which seems peculiar to the Pacific Ocean, and which is found in the highest perfection at Otaheite ; the cocoa-nut, which affords at once meat, drink, cloth, and oil ; the plantain of various kinds ; the chesnut, different in shape and size, but re sembling that of Europe in taste ; the Evee, a yellow apple, a stone:fruit, resembling a peach in flavour ; yams, which grow wild in the mountains, from one to six feet in length ; sweet potatoe, in great abundance, of an orange colour, resembling in taste the Jerusalem artichoke ; tarro, a root from twelve to sixteen inches in length, and as much in girth, which is cultivated in wet soils, and the leaves of which arc used like spinach ; besides, a number of other roots and potatoes, made into pastes and puddings. The
natives seldom plant the bread-fruit tree, as it springs again from the mot after being cut down ; but they make large plantations of cocoa-nuts and plantains. Grapes and pine-apples have been introduced by European visit ors ; and also Indian corn, which would ripen every three months, if the natives could he brought to cultivate it. The tobacco, planted by Captain Cook, is spread over the island. There are many trees and shrubs of great beauty; and a variety of flowers, for which the natives discover a great fondness. Sonic of the more remarkable shrub trees are, the Chinese paper-mulberry or cloth plant, which the natives cultivate with great care, and make from the bark, when steeped, their finest white cloth ; toa, a large tree of the hardest quality, of which they make their war clubs, spears, and cloth-beaters ; tomanoo, a spreading tree, the wood of which resembles walnut, and of which are made, canoes, stools, pillows, pudding-dishes, and trays, all wrought out of the solid wood ; hootdo, a large spreading tree, the nut of which is sometimes used for intoxicating the fish ; the wild sloe-t•ee, the bark of which furnishes a fine grey cloth, and the branches of which hang down and take root, so as to form an enormous trunk or cluster ; the silk cotton shrub, of which the natives make no use ; bam boos, which grow to the height of sixty feet, and of which are made fishing rods, flutes, arrows, &c. ; prickly palm, the leaves of which, six feet long, are used as thatch ; the cabbage tree, of which little use is made ; sugar cane, which grows spontaneously to a good size, but is not cultivated ; the yava, a shrub which has a peppery hot root, from which the only intoxicating beverage of the natives is prepared, and which is cultivated with great care ; hemp, red pep per, liquorice, hops, &c.