356 LAKE ROTU-AIRE. [PART II. 



they are on the coasts, if Mr. Bidwill was not de- 

 ceived when he says " the mountains in my imme~ 

 diate neighbourhood were all covered with snow, and 

 much below me /" Those who have travelled among 

 the snow-covered ridges of Switzerland are well 

 aware of the illusion of a snowy mountain appearing 

 to be below the point on which the beholder stands, 

 while it is, in fact, much higher. The cause of this 

 is, that distant mountains are taken to be much 

 nearer than they actually are, from the rays of the 

 sun being reflected from the dazzling snow, and 

 showing every feature with great distinctness. The 

 mountains here described by Mr. Bidwill as covered 

 with snow are evidently higher than the cone of 

 the Tongariro, or that which was ascended by him, 

 and form what the natives call Ruapahu, situated a 

 little to the south-east of Tongariro. 



Rotu-Aire is one of the sources of the Waikato 

 river. The waters of the lake are carried off by a 

 considerable stream which flows at the southern 

 slope of Pihanga, and, after a course of a few miles, 

 joins the principal stream, which comes from the 

 Ruapahu, and discharges itself into Taupo lake. The 

 natives cannot ascend with their canoes from Taupo 

 into Rotu-Aire, on account of rocks, which obstruct 

 the bed of the mountain-creek, and also by reason 

 of the numerous rapids, the level of Rotu-Aire above 

 the sea being 1709 feet, or 372 feet more than that 

 of Taupo. The temperature of the thermal point 



