50 JOURNAL OF A NATURALIST 
. its blue waters (here wide, and swift, and deep), rolling ma- 
jestically along. This is the largest fresh-water stream I 
have yet seen in New Zealand. This river the natives navi- 
gate in their canoes from above this place to where it dis- 
embogues into the south ocean on the west coast, a distance 
of upwards of two hundred miles. In consequence of there 
not being any food here, we had to travel nearly five 
miles in an almost southerly direction by the bank of the 
river, ere we could cross it. 
There, however, we found a rude bridge thrown across at 
a place where the river is very narrow, being confined within 
a sandstone channel through which it rushes with fearful ve- 
locity, eddying, and foaming, and carrying everything before 
it. The sandstone rocks on either side, through the softness 
of the stone, and the continual working of the waters, were 
fretted into a thousand fantastic shapes. Leaving the river, 
and ascending the western banks, we proceeded in a westerly 
direction for upwards of six miles, arriving at sunset, unwell, 
in pain, and much fatigued, at Wareturere, a small village in 
the Maungatautari district, where we were hospitably re- 
ceived by the natives. The sun, throughout this day, was 
intensely hot, and most of the country over which we passed 
quite free from wood, and very dry and dusty. Gained little 
indeed, in botany this day. 
24th.—Early this morning, I resumed my journey. The 
fervent sun, unobscured with clouds, told of another melting 
day ; and the high fern-brakes through which we had to force 
our way, abounded with their dreaded subtle yellow dust. 
“In vain the sight, dejected, to the ground 
Stoops for relief; thence hot-ascending steams, 
And keen reflection, pain.” 
** Distressful Nature pants, 
The tery streams look languid from afar, 
Or, through the unsheltered glade, impatient seem 
To hurl into the covert of the grove." 
Cheering my native companions in travel, we struggled on 
together up the steep hills. Reaching the summit of we 
