CHAP. III.] THE ER1TONGA. 87 



bouring tribes are, or rather were, frequent ; and in 

 that manner the natives become acquainted with 

 the most secret recesses of the country : but on such 

 occasions they always return to their settlements. 



We had now arrived at the foot of some low 

 hills, which formed the fore-hills of the Tararua 

 range, and were covered with fern, manuka, and 

 the burnt remains of a forest. They were of a 

 gentle slope, with a clayey soil. In the evening we 

 had a fine view from them of a range of snowy 

 hills : we therefore descended on the following day 

 into a deep valley, which separated us from this 

 range. In the valley flowed the creek which I have 

 before mentioned. We afterwards ascended a ridge 

 which was very open, and covered with high ana* 

 straight trees. Thus far the weather had favoured 

 us, but it now again became bad, and thick clouds 

 reposed upon the heights. We managed, however, 

 to reach the summit towards evening. The cold 

 now became very sensible ; the thermometer stood 

 at 37 Fahrenheit, and in the ravines and on the 

 branches of trees there was plenty of snow. I could 

 by no means determine where I actually was, as we 

 were unable to distinguish the objects many yards 

 from us ; and besides, the whole range was so 

 covered with high trees as to have prevented us 

 from having any view had the weather been clear. 

 It froze in the night, and more snow fell ; and 

 when I awoke in the morning the thermometer 

 stood at the freezing-point. 



