CHAP. III.] ERITONGA RIVER. 73 



carrying with us all our provisions, but chiefly from 

 the unfavourable season at which I undertook the 

 journey, and in which I had to contend with pour- 

 ing rains and heavy freshes in the river. Enough, 

 however, was explored to convince me that, although 

 the crowd of mountains around Port Nicholson was 

 remarkable, and the land very thickly wooded, steady 

 industry and perseverance would find a sufficient 

 extent of available land for the support of a town, 

 although connection with a larger agricultural 

 district would be indispensable. Such a district I 

 had already pointed out in the country to the west- 

 ward of the river Wanganui, comprising the level 

 and undulating land at the base of Mount Taranaki. 

 I started from Port Nicholson on the 30th of 

 July, 1840. All my companions were Europeans, 

 as I could not obtain the services of any natives. 

 This, however, was of no consequence, as they knew 

 the valley as little as myself, never having penetrated 

 far for fear of the Nga-te-Kahohunu tribe, the former 

 proprietors of the place, and their greatest enemies. 

 The river Eritonga forms at its outlet a broad basin 

 in the sandy downs of the coast, and is joined, not 

 far from its mouth, by three tributaries, the Okatu, 

 Ernotu, and Waiwatu. During flood-tide it is 

 easily entered by large boats, which can go up for 

 about six miles, when the shallowness of the water, 

 and the danger arising from the snags which are 

 imbedded in its bottom, prevent their farther pro- 

 gress. I followed the lines which the surveyors had 



