1 84 Voyage of the Novara. 



king, Potatau te Wlierowliero, at Ills residence, Ngaruawalila, 

 at the confluence of tlie Walkato and Walpali, and so by 

 the end of May reached Auckland from the Walkato, by way 

 of Mangatawhiri. 



'' The results of this expedition, of almost three months' 

 duration, were most satisfactory to myself. The weather 

 had been singularly favourable, so that I found no insur- 

 mountable obstacles, although our route led through districts 

 difficult of approach, owing to the frequent recm-rence of flood, 

 swamp, and almost impervious primeval forest. As my 

 travels were undertaken about the period of the New Zea- 

 land harvest time, both of the potato and corn crops, there 

 was no lack of provisions. At the various missionary sta- 

 tions scattered throughout this region we received the most 

 heartfelt hospitality, and even the native chiefs did not fall 

 to receive into their tents, and welcome in right hearty 

 ftxshion, the Te Ratu Hokiteta, as I was named in the Maori 

 tongue, with all his numerous train. My Maorles had proved 

 themselves so willing and obliging, as well as cheerful, over 

 the work, and my friends Haast, Hay, Hamel, and Kocli, 

 had so zealously co-operated with me, that the results 

 achieved were quite beyond my most sanguine expectations., 

 I now had complete geographical, geological, botanical, and 

 zoological materials in my hands, nor was there any lack 

 even of ethnographical specimens. 



'' My chief object had been to obtain a correct notion of 

 the geography and geology of the country. In order to be 



