CHAP. XXIII.] BOILING MUD-PONDS. 329 



feet in diameter, and filled with clear hot water, in 

 the centre of which the bubbles rose continually. 

 In one large pond there were eight such cones. In 

 seeing these cones one would almost be inclined to 

 think that those regular craters which are found 

 close together in Waitemata and Waimate have 

 been formed in the same way namely, as immense 

 stufas, which have been elongated, and have sub- 

 sided in that direction in which the water over- 

 flowed. The external appearance of the small and 

 large craters is perfectly alike, although the latter 

 are on an infinitely larger scale. 



The most stupendous of these boiling ponds was 

 about a quarter of a mile farther on. Here a steep 

 cliff, about sixty feet high, white, oxidized, corroded, 

 and undermined, presented itself. At its base was 

 a large pond, continually boiling, with a white 

 foam ; throwing out jets of fluid eight to ten feet 

 high, with great violence and noise. The tempera- 

 ture of this pond was likewise above the point of 

 boiling water. The pond, round which was depo- 

 sited a white clay, was apparently very deep ; but I 

 could not sound it, being unable to find amongst 

 the light volcanic materials which covered around it 

 a stone of sufficient weight to attach to my line. I 

 returned to the pa full of the impressive scene I had 

 just beheld. My party had started ; but from a 

 neighbouring potato-field I soon procured a guide, 

 and proceeded towards our evening resting-place. 

 The natives here chiefly cultivate the forest-land on 



