118 WEST BAY. [PART i. 



compare to that of our nightingale, although I must 

 confess that the former is simpler, and therefore 

 more impressive, and the warbling of the tui, 1 

 whose note resembles that of our thrush or black- 

 bird, cease at the setting of the sun ; but in the 

 morning, before he is above the horizon, the little 

 songsters renew their music with increased vivacity, 

 and their combined tunes form a pleasing concert. 

 The only inconvenience we suffered was from the 

 musquittos, which are always most numerous in 

 places that have been cultivated but afterwards 

 deserted. Early in the morning of the 2nd of 

 November we again took to the boat, and ascended 

 the southern arm of West Bay. This place has a 

 beach of flat land, similar to that of the northern 

 arm. Near the beach the land is swampy, and 

 covered with juncese, but soon ascends, bordered by 

 the neighbouring hills. Two rivulets of excellent 

 water discharge themselves into the sea. There 

 were many fine timber-trees, especially tawai and 

 pines. While the carpenter and his mates were 

 occupied in preparing a spar I went up the side of 

 the hills. The forest is open ; deep layers of decayed 

 leaves cover the rocks ; the growth of everything 

 appeared most vigorous : indeed throughout the 

 whole of New Zealand nature seems to be eager to 

 destroy and to reproduce. Large trees, unrooted 

 and decaying, were preparing new soil for their suc- 

 cessors, which were just struggling into existence. 

 1 Anthochaera concinnata, Vig. and Horsf. 



