22*2 [PART n. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



Harbour of M ango-nui, in Lauriston Bay. 



To the southward of Kaitaia the interior of the 

 island is occupied by a range of hills, which sends 

 its branches both eastward and westward, forming 

 narrow valleys that serve as river-courses. The 

 sea enters into several inlets on both coasts, where 

 it is joined by the various rivers, if the mountain- 

 streams deserve that name, and forms several har- 

 bours. The general height of these hills is less 

 than 1 500 feet above the level of the sea ; this 

 height, however, they attain in the Maunga Ta- 

 niwa. The top of this pyramid, which runs almost 

 to a point, offers an excellent view of the sur- 

 rounding land. An old Metrosideros stands on 

 the summit, overshadowing the heavy growth all 

 around : the natives have cut steps into its stem to 

 afford an easy ascent. From this place we over- 

 look the whole northern extremity of the island 

 as far as the Bay of Islands, and it will afford an 

 excellent trigonometrical station. We can here 

 perceive that the different ramifications of the chain 

 do not form valleys, but ravines, which only widen 

 towards the estuaries of the sea. The whole is 



