CHAP. XXIV.] OF TONGARIRO. 345 



issued from several crevices. From this point we 

 were unable to see the Ruapahu, although it is 

 only separated from the Tongariro by a narrow 

 valley. It exceeds the Tongariro in height, and is 

 at this time of the year covered with snow very 

 low down, as I afterwards perceived when in the 

 valley. Even in the middle of summer the Rua- 

 pahu reaches above the limits of perpetual snow. 

 To the westward this group of mountains descends 

 gradually into the valley, and beyond it is the 

 Hauhunga-tahi, which, like the Pihanga, is called 

 the "wife" of the Tongariro in the figurative ex- 

 pression of the natives. Hence the eye sweeps over 

 a moderately undulating country to Cook's Straits, 

 where, at a distance of about seventy miles, Tara- 

 naki, or Mount Egmont, appeared rearing its peak 

 above the clouds. It bore S. 60 W. The whole 

 of the country between the Tongariro and Mount 

 Egmont seemed to be covered with impenetrable 

 forest, with the exception of the immediate base of 

 the former, which was covered with discoloured 

 and coarse tufty grass. 



In the valley below is a lake of about three miles 

 in length, the Rotu-Aire, which forms the prin- 

 cipal source of the river Waikato. Another lake 

 of less extent was visible, surrounded by wooded 

 mountains, of which one was the Pihanga. They 

 formed a perfect basin for the lake, the level of 

 which was evidently above that of Rotu-Aire. It 

 is called Rotu-Ponamu. 



