292 MANUKAO HARBOUR. [PART II. 



which serves as a good landmark for ships entering 

 Waitemata harbour. Other conical hills are visible 

 at a little distance. 



The similarity of these craters with those of the 

 Auvergne, and especially the similarity of their 

 igneous products with those of the extinct volcanoes 

 of that place, is striking. They surpass them, how- 

 ever, in the preservation and regularity of their 

 funnel-shaped summits. 



The distance across the country from Auckland 

 to the head of Manukao Harbour is about seven 

 miles ; the land slopes gently towards the latter, 

 and is covered with grass, flax, or the beautiful 

 Veronica speciosa, which at the time of my visit 

 was covered with its lilac flowers, filling the air 

 with their perfume. Where this shrub grows it 

 is a sure indication of the richest soil. 



Between Auckland and Manukao there is no 

 wood, excepting that where the plain is intersected 

 by valleys a few shrubs grow. At the head of 

 Manukao are some native huts, called Onehunga, 

 occasionally inhabited by a few people of the Wai- 

 kato tribe, who have abundant crops on their neigh- 

 bouring cultivations, especially of maize. 



The harbour of Manukao, an inlet about fifteen 

 miles long and eight broad, sends an arm towards 

 the Tamaki in the Hauraki Gulf. Between these 

 points, as I have already mentioned, is the shortest 

 portage connecting the eastern and the western sea. 

 The upper part of the harbour is shallow, but there 



