This harbour, or bay, is called by the natives Oopoa, and taken in its greatest extent, it is capable of holding any number of shipping.  It extends almost the whole length of the east side of the island, and is defended from the sea by a reef of coral rocks:  The southermost opening in this reef, or channel, into the harbour, by which we entered, is little more than a cable’s length wide; it lies off the eastermost point of the island, and may be known by another small woody island, which lies a little to the south-east of it, called by the people here Oatara.  Between three and four miles north-west from this island lie two other islets, in the same direction as the reef, of which they are a part, called Opururu and Tamou; between these lies the other channel into the harbour, through which I went out, and which is a full quarter of a mile wide.  Still farther to the north-west are some other small islands, near which I am told there is another small channel into the harbour; but this I know only by report.

The principal refreshments that are to be procured at this part of the island are, plantains, cocoa-nuts, yams, hogs, and fowls; the hogs and fowls, however, are scarce; and the country, where we saw it, is neither so populous, nor so rich in produce, as Otaheite, or even Huaheine.  Wood and water may also be procured here; but the water cannot conveniently be got at.[43]

[Footnote 43:  Ulietea, or Reiadea, is nearly twice the size of Huaheine, and bears a still more striking resemblance to Otaheite.  Its importance was once very great among these islands, but this and its population have much declined, in consequence of an unsuccessful war it carried on with the people of Bolabola, aided by those of Otaha.  The distressed inhabitants fled in great numbers to Otaheite, and having obtained some reinforcement, ventured to attack their conquerors in Huaheine, where they had also carried their victorious arms.  They succeeded in this attack, which was conducted with much caution and prudence; but they were never able to recover possession of their own island.  The people of Otaha were soon afterwards subdued by their own allies of Bolabola, by much the most formidable and warlike of all these people, and said to be descended from persons who had been banished for their crimes from the neighbouring islands.  Bolabola we shall find was not landed on by Capt.  Cook, in consequence of his being on that side of it, where there is no harbour.  It was touched at by him in a boat when he last visited this cluster, and Capt.  Edwards went ashore there in 1791.  It is of a rude, barren appearance, especially on the eastern side, and is easily known by its lofty double-peaked mountain.  The warriors of Bolabola are differently punctured from all the other people in these islands, and are the terror of the whole neighbourhood.  Otaha, which is about four leagues to the south-west of Bolabola, and is subject to it, though superior in size, scarcely merits any notice additional to the text.  It is neither fertile nor populous, and being but about two miles from Ulietea, presents no inducements to Europeans.  Capt.  Edwards examined it in 1791.  A material advantage it has in two very good harbours, as will soon be mentioned.—­E.]