8 Transactions.— Miscellaneous. 
area, is covered with dismal-looking ponds of discoloured water, varying 
much in temperature, but in every case more or less saturated with 
sulphurous gases. Solfataras and mud volcanoes are also numerous, the 
pipes and crevices in the former being lined with crystals of sulphur. 
From Ohinemutu, I, in the first place, visited the geysers of Whakarewa, 
about two miles off, on the right bank of the Puheroa river. As compared 
with the small springs and fumaroles of Ohinemutu, those at Whakarewa 
exhibit, in much greater intensity, the effects of voleanic agency. Imme- 
diately across the ferry is a nearly circular Ngawha, or pond of boiling 
water, some twenty feet in diameter, the margin and interior surface of 
which are composed of silicious sinter, in the beautiful forms which this sub- 
- stance assumes in crystalization. The water of this Ngawha is of a rich 
mazarine blue, and as clear as crystal, and, when the steam happens to be 
blown gently from its surface, and the eye is thus enabled to penetrate the 
depths of the pond, huge masses of the same sinter, in the form of 
magnificent stalagmites and cascades, are seen to occupy the interior. The 
water of this Ngawha is rarely disturbed by ebullition, though a con- 
siderable rill constantly flows from it into the river. Beyond these are 
the two great geysers which form the principal feature at Whakarewa ; and 
although I was not fortunate enough to see either of them in full play, I 
saw enough to afford some idea of the appearance which they would then 
present. Standing upon the edge of the crater of the smaller of the two, in 
which the water-pipe is about four feet in diameter, I saw the water 
gradually rise, with a roaring sound similar to that produced by the escape 
of steam from the discharge-pipe of a large ship, until it reached the lower 
surface of the basin. The ebullition then increased in intensity until the 
basin itself was nearly filled, and then a column of water, three or four feet 
in diameter, was frequently projected into the air to the height of twelve or 
fifteen feet, falling back into the basin in showers of steaming spray. The 
water then receded from the basin and slowly sunk to its former level in the 
pipe, where it remained in a state of ebullition, but, although I watched it 
for nearly half an hour, there was no repetition of the more violent effects. 
A still larger geyser lies in immediate vicinity to the one I have just 
described; but this had shown no signs of violent activity for some 
months, and is said to be very capricious in its action. I have little doubt, 
however, that long-continued and earefully-taken observations will establish - 
as a fact (subject to the singular circumstance to which I shall hereafter 
refer), that the intermissions in the action of all these springs occur at 
regular intervals. Both of these greater geysers have formed, by depo- 
sit from their waters, rounded but irregular masses of silicious sinter, of 
a pure white colour and of very considerable extent, the pipes through which 
