IN NEW ZEALAND. 41 
found at Mangamako, a little wood through which we passed ; 
a very graceful Dracophyllum (145), a small shrub, from 
two to four feet in height, grew sparingly here in the 
little dells between the hills; and in the same locality I ob- 
tained a small species of Gnaphalium (137 a, &c.), which 
appeared to differ from any yet noticed. Here also I 
procured specimens of two curious little plants of Composite 
(140, 141) which sprung up in dense patches on the dry and 
broken pumice. "Towards evening, we arrived in the neigh- 
bourhood of the Rotorua Lakes. When traversing a deep 
bog, I discovered a very peculiar little leafless monopetalous- 
flowered plant, growing in the mud (143). On nearing Ran- 
giwakaaitu, the first and southernmost lake, I was much gra- 
tified with the very lovely appearance of a truly beautiful 
species of Leptospermum (144), a small tree from 15 to 25 
feet in height, which flourished here, growing in clumps and 
rows as if artificially planted. These trees were literally 
laden with a profusion of beautiful blossom ; and, from there 
being no underwood about them, not so much as a tuft of 
grass, they looked the more charming and conspicuous. An- 
other cireumstance struck me as singular: no small or young 
trees of the species could be met with ; all were old trees of 
many years’ growth. I say old, because the Leptospermum 
is a slow growing plant. Beneath them I saw a curious 
woolly moss (139,) which, though sought for assiduously, I 
could not detect bearing any fructification. : 
We had intended to make Tarawera (the second lake 
where some natives resided) our halting-place for this night ; 
but, although we had nothing to eat, we were so excessively 
tired as to bring up on the white-gravelled shores of the 
placid Rangiwakaaitu. I offered my natives the choice of 
staying supperless where we were, or proceeding to Tara- 
wera distant about three miles, and there getting food; 
fatigue, however, overcame hunger and they ehose the latter. 
The whole face of the country in the neighbourhood of the 
lake was overspread with massy blocks of lava, scattered in 
every direction, many of which were vitrified on the surface. 
