Hill. — Buapehu and Ngaurulioe. 615 



breaking to pieces ; and it is from this side that the ascent of 

 the mountain would be easiest, were it possible to reach the 

 place with the same degree of convenience as on the western 

 side. 



The rock-materials composing the mountain are greyish- 

 red and jet-black lavas, containing large feldspar crystals, 

 several of which I found of more than lin. in diameter. 

 There is no trace of pumice on the mountain, or in the valley 

 of the Mangatepopo ; but all the lower slopes to the east are 

 covered with a kind of tufaceous material, overlaid with 

 pumice grit and pebbles for a depth varying from a few 

 inches to as many feet. "With respect to the activity of 

 Ngauruhoe, Mr. Maunsell, who is well acquainted with the 

 mountains, informed me that the changes in the crater during 

 the past twenty years have been numerous, that they are 

 more marked after each winter, and that the activity of the 

 mountain has been greater since the eruption at Tarawera. 

 One curious feature with respect to the solidity of the moun- 

 tain appears to me as being worthy of mention. One of our 

 party at the time of my first visit, seeing a large boulder on 

 the ledge between the two minor craters, thought to create 

 some pleasure by rolling it down the side. The top of the 

 mountain has a peculiar bulge, so that the first leap of the 

 huge stone must have been 200ft. or more. The effect on 

 the mountain, as likewise on each member of our party, 

 was remarkable. The mountain shook as if it had been 

 hollow, and each member on the instant voted against the 

 rolling of boulders either down the mountam or into the 

 crater. 



At the base of Ngauruhoe, on the south-west, are two 

 crater-lakes known as Nga-puna-a-Tama, or Tama's Wells. 

 These lakes are situated on the highest part of the plateau 

 between Ngauruhoe and Euapehu, at a height of i:,560i't. 

 They appear to have no outlet, and were seemingly formed 

 in the same way as Echo Lake, Black Crater, and South 

 Crater in connection with the Tarawera eruption, as loose 

 boulders are to be seen scattered about in every direction. 

 The water at the date of my visit barely filled the floor of the 

 crater, in the centre of which could be seen the circular shaft, 

 as in the Blue Crater lake on Tongariro. These lakes in the 

 early summer are frequented by hundreds of mutton-birds 

 (Piiffinus griseus) ; but it is difficult to say on what they feed, 

 as the water is fresh and apparently free from any kind of 

 animal life. The birds breed in the vicinity of the lake, and 

 the Maoris visit the spot for the purpose of taking the young 

 when nearly full-fledged, being at that time extremely fat and 

 good eating. 



