366 Transactions. — Botany. 



Early the next morning I recommenced my march towards 

 Waikare Lake, the old chief of "Whakamarino accompanying 

 me. An hour's walking brought me to Waikare-taheke, a 

 rapid stream of about 4ft. deep, caused by the exit of- the 

 waters of the lake towards the sea, which here most 

 outrageously tumbled over a long and sloping bed of rock. 

 A bridge of trees (and one of the best-constructed native 

 bridges I have ever seen) was thrown across the foaming 

 torrent, which, though strongly secured together with the 

 woody steins of tough climbing-plants and supplejacks from 

 the forest, seemed as if every rush of the bounding water 

 would carry it away. A nervous person would scarcely have 

 hazarded himself on such a vibrating and precarious footing. 

 The singular beauty of the spot riveted my attention for a 

 few minutes, and I had almost determined to venture on a 

 sketch. Passing on, we soon arrived at the village Te One- 

 poto, situated on a high headland jutting into the north side 

 of the lake. The gateway was, as is often the case, em- 

 bellished with a pair of huge and boldly-carved human figures, 

 besmeared with shining red pigment, armed with spears, and 

 grinning defiance'to all comers. These were not only seen to 

 advantage through being elevated above the horizon, but their 

 eyes (or rather sockets), instead of being set with glittering 

 Hallolis shell (according to the usual national custom), were 

 left open, so that the light of the sky streamed through them, 

 and this was yet more particularly manifested owing to the 

 proper inclination given to the figures, looking down, as it 

 were, on all toiling up the narrow steep ascent into the well- 

 fenced village. The wind now blew so very strongly that it was 

 not possible to cross the lake in such small and frail canoes as 

 this people had at command, so I was obliged to halt and 

 pitch my tent here, although it was not an easy matter to 

 find a spot suitable, owing to the very great unevenness of the 

 ground, its unsheltered situation, and the very high wind. It 

 was now Christmas Eve, and here I was confined a prisoner 

 until the 29th, spending a very unpleasant Christmas. 



Whilst detained, however, I made the most of my time, 

 and was amply rewarded with specimens of new plants, and 

 among them were several ferns. Had I not been very anxious 

 to prosecute my journey I might have spent a very agreeable 

 time at this romantic and interesting place. Such, however, 

 was not the case ; the people among whom we now were had 

 scarcely at this season any food for their own use, and, although 

 they exerted themselves to the utmost in their endeavours to 

 be hospitable towards me and my party, they could only allow 

 us two scanty meals of roots and herbs per diem. 



Although at this season harvest was about commencing in 

 'the more northerly parts of the Island, here, in those elevated 



