IN NEW ZEALAND. 53 
having quickly despatched, we proceeded down the river in 
our bark. This river has a very tortuous course, winding 
continually to all points of the compass.* Its width is pretty 
uniform, generally being from 70 to 100 feet, with a slow 
current. It is navigable hence for large boats, and the sides 
are, in many places, densely clothed with trees to the water's 
edge; among which Dacrydium excelsum shows itself con- 
spicuous. In its banks which are mostly composed of allu- 
vial earth, and which in some places are 14—20 feet in 
height, pipe-clay and volcanic sand sometimes present them- 
selves to the view. At four p.m. we reached Ngaruawahie, the 
spot where the junction of this river with the Waikato 
is effected. As before the Waikato came rolling impe- 
tuously on, carrying its waters quite across the placid 
Waipa to the opposite bank. From this place the two 
rivers bear the name of Waikato to the sea, and justly so 
too, as the waters of the Waipa are completely lost in those 
of the deep and rapid Waikato. A little below Ngaruawahie 
we met a native in a canoe with a live and elegant specimen 
ofthe genus Fulica. I hailed the man, and purchased the 
* I will just mention the direction of the river for the first ten miles, as I 
took it down from observation with my compass : 
N.E. 
N. 
N.W., 1 mile. 
S.S.E. 
S. Those bearings without distances an- 
S S.W. nexed, I supposed to be under half a 
S., $ mile mile. 
S.S.W. 
W. 
W.N.W., 4 mile, 
W.S.W. 
W., 15 mile. 
W.N.W. 
N.W. 
N. 
N.N.E., 5 mile. 
N. 
N.W. 
