CHAP. XXI.] COUNTRY NEAR MANUKAO. 293 



is a navigable channel for small craft nearly to its 

 head. Part of the shore at the head is strewed 

 over with hard basaltic lava and cellular scoriae, 

 and it is not difficult to point out,, in a cone on the 

 southern shore, the source of this volcanic produce. 

 The northern shore is cliffy, and consists of strati- 

 fied greyish sandstone, or sandstone conglomerate. 

 The stratifications of the latter are sometimes curvi- 

 linear. The cliffs are wooded with various trees ; I 

 observed especially Vitex litoralis, which is remark- 

 able for its dark leaves, pink flowers, and cherry- 

 like fruit, Metrosideros tomentosa, Persoonia tora, 

 Knightia excelsa, Laurus tarairi, Fuchsia excorti- 

 cata, Myrtus bullata, Corynocarpus Isevigata, Ed- 

 wardsia microphylla, and the lower shrubs Rubus 

 australis, Solanum laciniatum, Piper excelsum, and 

 others. But this vegetation is merely confined to 

 the coast, as the land which extends from the 

 north shore of Manukao is not covered with any- 

 thing of higher growth than fern, rushes, Lepto- 

 spermum, Drosera, and a few Orchidese. This land 

 consists of low hills, the upper soil of which is a 

 stiff clay ; the whole has formerly been covered with 

 kauri-forest, as is proved by the gum or resin, of 

 which pieces are everywhere found. This tree 

 grows now only near the heads of Manukao Har- 

 bour, and on the hills which extend along the sea- 

 shore from Kaipara to Manukao. Here the kauri, 

 as in other places, is associated with other pines, 

 especially rimu, kawaka, tanekaha, and miro (Da- 



