108 ENTRY ISLAND. [PART I. 



narrow strip of land. The water is brackish, in 

 consequence of the sea, during heavy gales, being 

 driven into it. The surrounding ground is some- 

 what marshy, and is covered with Phormium tenax, 

 several kinds of rushes, the manuka (which was, at 

 the time of my visit, in full flower), and an orchi- 

 daceous plant with fine flesh-coloured blossoms. 

 The natives are acquainted with the farinaceous 

 quality of the roots of this plant, and often eat 

 them. 



Kapiti is about twenty-five miles in circumference. 

 It belongs to the transition formation, and contains 

 much ancient trap-rock : clay-slate rocks and grey- 

 wacke are the most common. 



The whole island is covered with a very vigorous 

 vegetation, mostly of trees, amongst which are fine 

 timber-trees, especially the rata, kahikatea, and rimu. 

 In the ravines and on the top of the hills there is 

 a rich vegetable mould, where the plantations of 

 potatoes, cabbage, turnips, and Indian-corn thrive 

 well. Coarse grass of several kinds is found in 

 some spots, affording, with the green bushes, food 

 for a few head of cattle which were introduced into 

 the island some years ago. 



From the limited extent of this island, as well as 

 from its formation, it is of small agricultural or 

 commercial importance. It perhaps, however, de- 

 serves attention in a military point of view ; and, 

 together with the three rocky islands at its south 

 end, has for many years been a very important place 



