HIGHLAND VEGETATION. 43 



empty itself into the sea on the coast of Mairi- 

 pehe. 



The road to the lake follows closely the chan- 

 nel of this river, or only departs from it to evade 

 circuitous bends, rapids, or unfordable depths. 

 In our journey to Vaihiria and back we crossed 

 this stream one hundred and eighteen times. 

 It was often both broad and deep at the fords, 

 and its current so strong as to require some 

 exertion to stem it. The dry and detached 

 paths, trodden by former visitors, were narrow, 

 often concealed by vegetation, and covered with 

 loose and rugged stones that rendered travelling 

 painfully laborious. 



Midway between the coast and Vaihiria, a 

 solitary cocoa-nut tree, serving as an index to 

 this distance, was the last of its family we 

 passed. The Guava-shrub, also, became more 

 scarce, and gradually disappeared, although it is 

 making vigorous and promising efforts to accom- 

 pany man to the borders of the lake. The ordi- 

 nary vegetation of the coast was now exchanged 

 for groves of the mountain- plantain, covering 

 the neighbouring heights with their palmy 

 foliage, crowned with erect clusters of scarlet 

 fruit ; elegant arborescent ferns and many 

 varieties of club -mosses clothed the banks of the 

 river ; and several continuous acres of land were 



