144 MOUNT EGMONT. [PART I. 



although the thermometer in open places rose to 

 90, and at six in the evening on a hill it stood at 

 80. We did not see many birds, and I need scarcely 

 repeat that the most perfect silence reigned through 

 the forest. Although we walked on a track, it was 

 one visible only to the eyes of Tangutu ; and it was 

 not until after much practice that I could distin- 

 guish, in the turning or the pressure of a leaf, indi- 

 cations that the path had ever been trod by mortal 

 feet. My guide went patiently forward, carrying a 

 heavy load for me, without a murmur, although a 

 priest and a person of consequence among his own 

 people. We soon came to another potato-field of 

 Tangutu, where he had a house ; he here entered the 

 forest, and quickly returned with some fern-root and 

 some dried shark which he had concealed, and which 

 greatly increased our scanty stock of provisions. In 

 consequence of the insecurity of their persons and 

 property, it is very usual with the Taranaki natives 

 to have plantations of this sort in the forest, which 

 are often known to the proprietor alone, and to 

 which he can fall back in times of need. Frequently 

 Tangutu would on a sudden make me stop on the 

 way, and, entering the forest, would return either 

 with a dried fish, or with some oil, contained in a 

 dilated joint of kelp, with which he would grease 

 his dark and glossy hair ; sometimes he brought a 

 handful of leeks, which were always welcome. 



At sunset we arrived at the cleared summit of a 

 hill, where we found several houses for provisions, 



