Forest Scenery in New Zealand. 1 6^^ 



elegant water-plants, while at a short distance away we could 

 descry magnificent trees springing from the high-lying but 

 fertile soil. It was a most delightful day. Throughout our 

 entire excursion the thermometer ranged from 71° 6 Fahr. to 

 77° Fahr., so that, our strength not exhausted by oppressive 

 heat, and oiu' attention not distracted by the hum or the sting 

 of insects, we were free to indulge those mingled feelings of 

 which the variety and magnificence of the landscape were so 

 well calculated to elicit the manifestation. Presently the river 

 became once more very narrow, the hills again closed in, 

 covered with a thick belt of forest, which extended down to 

 the water's edge, occasionally forming a canopy of indescrib- 

 able grace above om' boat, as she glided noiselessly below. 

 At last the Mangatawhiri, which hitherto had pursued a 

 westerly direction, made a bend to the southward, and de- 

 bouched into the Waikato. The impression made upon each 

 of our party by the scenery at this point was so overpowering, 

 that all, as though smitten by one common impulse, broke 

 into expressions of delight. Its course lying between moun- 

 tains of magnificent outline and thickly wooded, the majestic 

 stream presented many points of resemblance to the Rhine 

 and Danube, to which it was little if at all inferior in point of 

 width. K holy calm brooded over its clear brown ripples, 

 only broken by the flight of birds from time to time, which 

 in those undistm-bed solitudes, far from the murderous weapons 

 of man, passed their existence in happy security. That we 

 might enjoy in all their plenitude the exquisite charm of the 



