56 JOURNAL OF A NATURALIST 
Large quantities of an elegant species of Cyperus, (C. fulvus? 
R. Br.) grew here on either shore. 
28.—Early this morning we resumed our course down the 
river which here begins to be under the influence of the 
tides. The morning was squally and lowering, with every 
indication of a gale at hand. As we neared the sea-coast the 
river became very wide, being from two to three miles across, 
and containing several flat islands. The water here is shallow. 
At noon we had a prospect of the outer range of hills on the 
West Coast ; and a more dreary and sterile one cannot easily 
be imagined ; high and broken ferruginous-eoloured sand- 
hills destitute of the least vestige of vegetation. The wind 
setting in from the sea against the ebbing tide caused the 
water to become very rough, calling forth our united energies 
to keep our frail bark from swamping. At two p.m. we landed 
in safety at Maraetei, a station belonging. to the Church 
Mission where the Rev. R. Maunsell resides, whose kind 
and hospitable reception quickly made us forget the little danger 
we had so very lately been in. Maraetei is on the immediate 
south bank of Waikato river, and only about a mile distant 
from the heads. The land on the southern side is very high 
and precipitous ; while on the northern it is lower, and for 
three or four miles the very perfection of barrenness. Mr. 
M., who has been several times up and dewn the river, sup- 
poses the distance which we came by water to be from 130 
to 150 miles; being very nearly what I had caleulated it. 
The river decreases rapidly in width as you approach its 
mouth, which is exceedingly narrow, with a bar across it, 
on. which is two fathom of water. Here, the breakers 
rst continually ; one or two small vessels have, however, 
entered. 
Feb. Ist—At six a.m. we left Maraetei; crossing the river 
in a canoe to the northern bank, and proceeded over the sand 
hills on our journey towards Manukau. We soon descended 
to the outer coast, over theinterminable sandy beach of which 
we travelled until an hour after sunset ; when greatly fatigued 
