272 GULF OF HAURAKI. [PART II. 



by the sea both on the eastern and western coast ; 

 but on the latter the rocky line is interrupted by 

 an inlet, which forms Waihao or Coromandel har- 

 bour : at the back of the harbour the hills, rising 

 into remarkable pinnacled and pyramidical summits, 

 serve as excellent landmarks for the guidance of ves- 

 sels entering it. 



To the southward this hilly chain continues 

 along the eastern coast: at the foot of their western 

 slope runs the Waiho, or the river Thames. Here 

 the chain of hills assumes the name of the Aroha 

 (Love) mountains, and borders the valley of the 

 Thames to the eastward, shutting it from the sea. 

 Besides the Waiho, another river, the Piako, flows 

 in this valley, and has its embouchure close to that 

 of the former. 



Waihao or Coromandel Harbour is twenty-five 

 miles from Cape Colville and thirty-five from 

 the mouth of the Thames. It is surrounded by 

 hills, which on the eastward rise in a series of 

 longitudinal ridges to the height of about 1500 

 feet. To the eastward and northward a stripe of 

 alluvial land runs at the base of the hills; but 

 otherwise the shores, which consist of a sandstone 

 conglomerate and trap, are so hilly that they render 

 all communication difficult between the natives who 

 live in the different small bays around the shores. 

 The shore is covered with verdure, and pohutukaua- 

 trees grow all around. The soil on the lower 

 hills is fertile, and yields abundant supplies to the 

 natives. 



