Oparre Harbour is the only one which Taheite affords where a Ship may ride in safety at any season of the Year (Maatavye Bay Cannot be Counted safe more then Six or Seven Months in the Year) the Anchorage is Good in 8 to 16 fathoms Black sand — to the Westward of the reef which defends Point Venus about a Cables length lies a bank of Coral which is Calld the Dolphin bank — the shoalest part of it is bare 13 feet but between it and the reef is a Good Passage with 22 fathom water; and this passage I would recommend before going to leeward & by keeping the reef aboard, and coming no nearer then 10 fathom — You may run in and anchor in Safety — but by going to the Westward You are liable to meet with sudden puffs thrown off in a Southerly diriction from One tree hill (a Bluff Commanding the Bay) which is sometimes followed by a few Minutes Calm before the true wind recovers its force — and a ship maybe baffled and if weakly mand, as is often the Case after a long Voyage, forced to bring up in foul ground or be driven out and obliged to work to windward again but this is not always the Case & with a Fresh Sea Breeze there is no fear, but by keeping to the Eastward of the Bank all trouble may be avoided — there is another Rock in the Bay but it is in sight and close to the East part of the Beach.

Water is plenty all over the Island but Wood for Fuel is not, as there are few other trees in the lowland exceept the Bread fruit & Cocoa Nut, with which it is Covered; but evry tree has its owner, & must be either purchased or leave obtaind to Cut of the Natives. While the Sun is to the N. of the Equator the air is Clear and the Weather fine, and the SE wind blows regularly, the low land being covered with trees affords an agreeable shade and the Heat is not felt to any excess and during this season the Natives pass th[r]ough the Mountains from one side of the Island to the other which they cannot do in the rains and are then forced to keep to the sea side if they have occasion to travel.

Indigenous Histories