CHAP. V.] COAST OF ARAPAOA. 



off Cape Komaru, a remarkably steep pyra. 

 promontory, which cannot be easily mistaken, and 

 may serve as a safe landmark for ships running into 

 the north entrance of Cook's Straits. Off this pro- 

 montory are the White Rocks, just above water, 

 consisting of the usual yellow schist. The coast of 

 Arapaoa, towards Queen Charlotte's Sound, is of a 

 similar formation, with the same strike and dip. 

 This part of the coast partakes in its general appear- 

 ance of the character which I have assigned to the 

 coast in Cook's Straits, being steep and barren. 

 Nearly opposite the Two Brothers there is a small 

 beach, called Kapiti Beach, where the natives often 

 land when they are prevented from crossing the 

 straits, and reach the head of East Bay by a short 

 and easy walk. The natives of the latter place 

 dread this spot, as from it they can be easily sur- 

 prised by their enemies. A fear was entertained in 

 Queen Charlotte's Sound that Tairoa, the chief from 

 Otago, was about to attack the Nga-te-awa tribes ; 

 and in East Bay the natives were fortifying their 

 village against a surprise from Kapiti Beach. 



When the Tory first came to New Zealand we 

 entered Queen Charlotte's Sound between Motuara 

 and Te Katu, or Long Island. This time we left 

 Te Katu on our starboard side, and I observed that 

 the shores were steep and scantily covered with 

 vegetation. A large ship followed in our track from 

 Mana, and arrived in East Bay a little after the 

 Tory had cast anchor. She proved to be the Con- 



i2 



