Polynesian., 1844-06-22
NEW SERIES, Vol. mo. S.

continuing tneif laDOrs al those spots. This
is a plausible theory, judging simply from
the uniformity of these openings with the
streams that pour their water into the ocean
near where they occur; a fact which the most
casual observer cannot fail to have noticed.
"Since the remarks upon the influence Of
tides upon reef channels, in a preceding por-
ton of this communication, have been in
press, it has occurred to me that in connec-
ton with that topic it will be proper to speci-
fy several erroneous assertions relative to the
tides generally throughout Polynesia; which
derive Importance from the name of their
authors Justly possessing much weight, not
less with scientific readers than the public
generally.
"Capt. Beechey, in the "Voyage Of the
Blossom" part l. Chap. TX. Lond. Ed,
speaking of tides in the harbors ofTahiti, re-
marks, "a Toanoa, it is usually low water
about six every morning, and high water half
an hour after noon" and attributes this pecu-
liarity to the sea breeze by day, forcing the
water into the harbor, which is a lagoon be-
tween the reef and shore; adding, "as the
wind abates, the water subsidies, and the
nights being generally calm, the water finds
uS IoWcSt level NY mOFnlnS.
CHOW the first ofthese propositions, though
strictly true, is only a partial statement, con-
veying, and (as is evident from the context)
designed to convey, the idea that the food
tide lasts only about six hours, while the ebb
continues for eighteen, from noon of one day
till six the next morning. The second quotas
ton contains a positive mis-statement. In
the first place, at Toanoa, as in all the har-
bors of Tahiti and the other Society Islands,
it is full sea regularly twice in twenty-four
hours, and always about noon and midnight;
and low water about six o'clock, morning and
evening. The mornings are calm for per-
haps eleven months in the year, the trade
wind or sea breeze commonly setting in about
eleven o'clock, and prevailing in its greatest
strength from noon till four or five P. M. It
then dies away, and by eight or nine p. M.
there is a dead calm which continues till the
next forenoon.
"Thus. instead of the tide being forced in
to the harbOr by the sea breeze, we find that
a great part of the day and all the night flood
takes place during a calm, whereas during
the afternoon, the water GIBBS rapidly against
the full power of the breeze. Even If Capt.
B. was correct, in regard to the duration Of
the ebb and flood, his explanation would not
reach the case of those harbors on the lee
ward side of the islands, where the trades are
not felt, and yet the tides follow the same
course as those on the opposite side.
"In kotZcbue's account Of his voyage
round the world, he also has given currency
to very inaccurate statements on this subject.
In his remarks on Tahiti, we find the follow
ing passage. every noon, the whole year
round, the moment the sun touches the me-
ridian, the water is highest, and falls with the
sinking sun, till midnight"
cit would be a difficult matter, to crowd
in as few words a greater number of errors
than are here contained. They convey q
false impression that the tides are governed
entirely by the sun; represent them as dur
nal instead of semi-diurnal, and name as the
hour for the daily recurrence of low water,
that when it is actually full sea. Neither is
it always high water, as he asserts, "the mo-
ment the sun touches the meridian" though
this, compared with the rest, is but a trivial
misrepresentation. So we'll are the facts
have stated, known to the natives, whose
habit of daily visiting the reef to catch fish,
which are a principal article of their food,
has made them naturally observant Of the
tides; and who to this day have little idea Of
our divisions of time; that instead of asking
what hour it is, or how high is the sun, they
inquire "Where is the sea?" do not at
tempt to explain this singular deviation from
the laws elsewhere governing this phenom-
enon, but merely state what know from per-
sonal observation to be the facts Of the case.
"Capt. Beechy also remarks in the work
cited, that "the tides in all harbors formed
by coral reefs, are very uncertain, and are
almost wholly dependent on the sea bresses."