88 THE TARARUA RANGE. [PART I. 



The ridge which we had yesterday ascended 

 branches off in a westerly direction from the main 

 range, which runs nearly north and south. 



We this day followed the range to the north- 

 ward, in which direction I had seen a pyramidical 

 elevation towering somewhat higher than the rest. 

 Large trees which had been blown down obstructed 

 our path, a proof of the heavy gales which some- 

 times rage here. As we ascended we found the 

 snow in greater quantity. The weather was a 

 little clearer, and on reaching the highest summit 

 I climbed up a tree and saw somewhat of the sur- 

 rounding country. The ridge on which we were 

 ran to the southward ; its limits were enveloped in 

 clouds. In the direction of west-by-south I distin- 

 guished Kapiti, or Entry Island, about seventy miles 

 distant. Several ranges of hills separated us from 

 the sea. The hills sweep round, and terminate, as 

 it appeared to me, in a wooded promontory at 

 Otaki, twenty miles to the northward of Kapiti. 

 To the eastward I saw another range of hills run- 

 ning nearly parallel to that on which we were, and 

 separated from it by a deep and narrow chasm. In 

 looking into the valley of the Eritonga I saw that 

 the whole was covered with wood ; only a small 

 stripe of its waters was visible. Port Nicholson 

 was hid from our view by the eastern hills. The 

 land in the upper part of the valley was composed 

 of low hills, and I distinguished a swamp about 

 three miles in circumference. The character of the 



