CHAP. XXIV.] OP TONGARIRO. 353 



certainly have given up the undertaking. A few 

 patches of a most beautiful snow-white Veronica, 

 which I at first took for snow, were growing among 

 the stones, but they ceased before I had ascended a 

 third part of the way. A small grass reached a 

 little higher, but both were so scarce that I do not 

 think I saw a dozen plants of each in the whole 

 ascent. After I had ascended about two-thirds of 

 the way I got into what appeared a watercourse, 

 the solid rock of which, although presenting hardly 

 any projecting points, was much easier to climb 

 than the loose dust and ashes I had hitherto scram- 

 bled over. It was lucky for me another eruption 

 did not take place while I was in it, or I should 

 have been infallibly boiled to death, as I afterwards 

 found that it led to the lowest part of the crater, 

 and, from indubitable proofs, that a stream of hot 

 mud and water had been running there during the 

 time I saw the smoke from the top. The crater 

 was the most terrific abyss I ever looked into or 

 imagined. The rocks overhung it on all sides, and 

 it was not possible to see above ten yards into it, 

 from the quantity of steam which it was continually 

 discharging. From the distance I measured along 

 its edge, I imagine it is at least a quarter of a mile 

 in diameter, and is very deep. The stones I threw 

 in, which I could hear strike the bottom, did not do 

 so in less than seven or eight seconds, but the greater 

 part of them I could not hear. It was impossible 

 to get on the inside of the crater, as all the sides I 

 VOL. i. -2 A 



