HOT SPRINGS OF NEW ZEALAND 97 



and the roar of a thousand cannon, a burst of whit- 

 est steam quickly outstripped and enveloped the 

 uprushing mass. The explosion was awe-inspiring, 

 terrible, grand beyond comparison. No more ap- 

 palling yet fascinating spectacle can exist; no 

 greater satisfaction can be experienced, than to see 

 such a phenomenon at close range. The sight alone, 

 I am sure, is worth the travelling thousands of miles 

 of land and water to behold. 



The outburst had taken place in the hundredth 

 part of a second ; almost immediately we were 

 pelted with the sand and small stones which fell as 

 the exploded mass shot back into its crater, causing 

 us to take refuge in the shelter-hut provided for that 

 purpose on the summit of the cliff. In a moment 

 all was over ; the pond regained its usual placid sur- 

 face, and no sign save the continued shower of sand 

 told of the mighty eruption which had taken place. 

 Silently we descended again to the basin, a little 

 serious at the thought of what would have been our 

 fate had the outburst occurred a short five minutes 

 earlier. It is well indeed that visitors may now no 

 longer approach within the zone of danger. 



Waimungu, I say, is worth the travelling many 

 thousands of miles of land and sea to behold ; yet 

 Waimungu, though the greatest, is by no means the 

 only feature which renders New Zealand a wonder- 



