CHAP. XVII.] KERI-KERI RIVER. 249 



abundance. A few groves of trees in the neighbour- 

 hood of Waimate contain chiefly puriri, tarairi, and 

 high stems of fuchsia. 



These groves were formerly used as bury ing-places 

 by the natives, who suspended coffins containing the 

 bodies of their dead to the trees, which has made 

 them sacred, and is perhaps the cause of their not 

 having shared in the destruction which has attended 

 the greater part of the forest. 



The natives living in this neighbourhood belong 

 to the Nga-pui, who were formerly one of the 

 largest tribes in New Zealand, but have very much 

 decreased, notwithstanding the ascendency which the 

 conquests of E' Ongi gave them over many other 

 tribes. They live much dispersed in their small 

 villages. Remains of their ancient pas are visible 

 on the hills in the neighbourhood of Waimate. 



A few miles to the northward of Waimate is the 

 Keri-keri river, where there is a mission-station. 

 The intervening land is very inferior, and especially 

 around the station ; but higher up the Keri-keri it 

 is decidedly good. The Keri-keri is a small stream, 

 forming a fall about two miles above the station, 

 opposite to which there is a rapid, presenting a 

 barrier to the farther ascent of the tide. Small 

 vessels can come up as high as this point. The 

 estuary of the Keri-keri has the appearance of a 

 broad river, and presents some fine sites for farming 

 establishments on its borders. 



The waterfall of the river Keri-keri (a water- 



