Park. — Ascent of Mount Franklin. 353 



laborious travelling brought us to the last clump of bush, in which, well 

 sheltered from all winds, we pitched our camp, at an altitude of 4,050 feet 

 above the sea. Shortly after dark our party was further augmented by the 

 arrival of Mr. Thompson and another guide. 



The next day was occupied in making botanical collections and looking 

 out the best route to ascend the mountain. About 20 chains above our camp, 

 that is at the foot of Mount Franklin, the Waiau divides, and proceeding 

 up the left-hand branch for about two miles, we left the main stream and 

 scrambled up the steep face of an old terminal moraine, composed of huge 

 angular rocks and debris piled to a height of 700 feet. 



On the opposite side of the valley we counted six or seven very distinct 

 parallel terraces, furrowed out by glacier action. These terraces occupy a 

 lower level than the foot of the terminal moraine just mentioned, and must 

 therefore be due to the action of the glacier that once filled the Upper Waiau 

 Valley. Still pursuing an upward course, we encountered a small area of 

 glacier ice, probably all that now remains of the great Waiau Glacier. At 

 this place, 6,050 feet high, may be seen small patches of that peculiar 

 1-celled plant, Protococcus or red snow. The presence of this vegetable 

 growth is said to be an indication of the very permanent character of the 

 snow on which it occurs. 



At 5,600 feet Mount Franklin presents an almost perpendicular wall 

 from 500 to 1,000 feet high, and seeing little prospect of a practicable route 

 in this direction it was determined to attempt the ascent from the other 

 branch of the Waiau. 



Next day, the 18th, we proceeded up the right-hand branch some two 

 miles above the junction, and turning to the right began the ascent of the 

 mountain. A succession of rounded bluffs and steep shingle slips soon 

 brought us to an elevation of 5,500 feet. From this height we observed a 

 lake at the head of the right-hand branch, some two miles to the westward. 

 This lake, which was estimated at two miles long and a quarter of a mile 

 wide, was named Lake Thompson in compliment to Mr. Thompson, to whose 

 assistance the success of the trip was mainly due. 



The hollows now began to be filled with snow, and the grasses, so 

 luxuriant below, now gave place to Cehnisias and Haastias and occasional 

 patches of Baoulias and Donatias. 



At 6,500 feet we encountered permanent snowfields, and at 7,500 feet 

 we reached the top of the range, which is a mere razor-back, being only a 

 few feet wide, and composed of loose angular and slab-like rocks. 



On looking over to the north side we observed a clear mountain lake, 

 very similar in size and appearance to Lake Thompson. This lake was 

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