NATURAL HISTORY OF NEW ZEALAND. 65 



covered with thick spreading roots and other creeping plants, overgrown with 

 Moss, so as to form a kind of uneven matting which rendered travelling very dif- 

 ficult. The underwood was very thick, and the trunks of the lofty trees rose 

 like clusters of columns supporting a canopy of verdant foliage, through which 

 the sun's rays seldom penetrate. There was no beaten path, and the wide and 

 dreary solitude of the place was only broken by some lonely bird which chirped 

 among the bushes, or, startled by our intrusion on its retirement, darted across 

 our path. This terminated the second forest, the rest of the journey laying 

 through an open country. We now crossed a vapid stream in a deep gully or ra- 

 vine ; on ascending the opposite bank a most beautiful view breaks on the eye 

 of the traveller. A more rich undulating country, or one better adapted for cul- 

 tivation, is not to be seen. On the right is a fine fresh- water lake of from six to 

 eight miles long, and from four to five miles broad, with beautiful undulating 

 hills, gently sloping to the water's edge, the land of which appeared rich and 

 fertile. Several volcanic hills appeared beyond the lake. The road now turns 

 to the left, through a large savannah, passing three native villages, round the 

 foot of a conical hill, which has all the appearance of the crater of a silent vol- 

 cano, the ground being covered with scoria. I now arrived at Y^himatte, a 

 settlement under the guidance of the Church Mission, it being their farming 

 establishment, under the superintendence of Mr. Davi'es. They produce fine 

 crops of Wheat, Oats, Indian Corn, Potatoes, Red and White Clover. The 

 establishment does Mr. Davies great credit. They have Sheep, Horses, and 

 Cattle, all of which are sent to the other settlement for the support of the Church 

 Missionaries. I remained during the night at Whimatte, and proceeded to the 

 Bay of Islands next day ; on the way I observed four of those volcanic hills pre- 

 viously described, about three miles apart. About four miles from Whimatte 

 we came to the river Kerrekeri ; which is to be crossed, and as there is no bridge, 

 it must be forded. From the late rains the river was much swollen, and very 

 rapid ; one of my guides said he could carry me over on his shoulders, to 

 which I consented. After proceeding about half-way, my sable bearer, 

 from some unforseen occurrence, stumbled, and away I went, head foremost, 

 into the stream, to the no small amusement of the Tongatamouris.* After 

 picking up my gun and other articles from the bottom of the river, we 

 once more proceeded on our journey. Having ascended a gentle hill, I 

 crossed an elevated undulating plain covered with large masses of scorea and 

 other volcanic substances fast going to decay from exposure to the atmosphere. 

 I also observed that the stream which traversed this plain was much discoloured 

 by oxide of iron, of which there appeared great abundance. Ascending another 



* Tongatamouri is the native name for a Zealander. 



