But this very idea leads me to another view o f nature. O -T a -
heiteeand all the high iflands, are in general more happy and more
fertile, than the low iflands, and thofe o f a moderate height.
T h e high hillsdn the middle o f the firlt, attrad by their fituation,
all the vapours and clouds that pais near them; there are but few
days, on which their ikmmits are not involved in fogs and clouds;
and though it does not conftantly rain there, yet fuch a regular fup-
ply ofrnoifture is derived from thefe hills, that their very tops
are crowned with lofty trees, and their fides fringed with ihrubs and
agreeable plants during the whole year; and all the furrounding; valleys
colled in their bofom the falutary humidity, which is not abforbed
by thefe plants, and which is generoufly fcreened by them againft:
the fun’s power ; fo that in every one a gentle ftreafh is colleded
from the fmaller rills, which unite into one bed. This rivulet the*
natives Hem here and there by wears, made o f large Rohes, in order
to Water the plantations o f eddoes; the frequent trees that are growing
along the banks o f the Iweet purling ftream, extend their fhady'
btanchs, give a coolnefs to the virgin-water, and thus bring refrefh-
ment, and the principles o f life into the plains, where the rivulet
begins to meander between the rich plantations o f bread-fruit, apple
and cloth trees, and bannana’s, and fpreads happinefs and plenty..
Thefe rivers become the fountains and chief caufes o f the great variety
o f fruit, which grow every where; they enliven the pidu--
refque
refque fcenery, and afford a cooling liquor for the inhabitants. Where- atmo-
, - sphere
as the natives o f the lower ifles, have no other but coco-nut trees
round their habitations, which thrive well in a fandy foil, and dole
to the fea-fhore often within the reach of the fpray ; and the rain
water .preferred in deep filthy pits, and ponds, full of green, flimy,
aquatic plants, and flunking from its ftagnation, is the only refrefh-»
ing liquor they enjoy after they have been expofed on the reef
(where they muft refort for the fifhery) to the parching fun and
fpray o f the feas. Such is the difference in the difpenflation of
the falutary rains, caufed by the different ftrudure o f the ifles.
Though the high hills conftantly attrad the moifture o f the
clouds and caufe many rains during the whole year,, there is however
a feafon, when the rains are more copious ; and this was juft
palTed, when we came the fecond time to O-Taheitee ; for all the
ftreams and rivulets were full o f water, whereas before, they had
hardly water enough to moiften the ground.
Th e very hills which are the caufe o f the fertility and happinefs
■ of thefe ifles, produce likewife another phenomenon, viz;'as'they
attrad the rifing vapours, and pafling elouds o f the atmofphere:
the temperature o f the air is thereby frequently changed, and con-
fequently fudden gufts of winds are produced by this change, with .
concomitant fqualls of rain; this is an intimation to navigators of
the vicinity of land, as we feveral times experienced. W e had fqualls
P 2 and