172 



be expected there ; and any one approaching the spring from the side on which 

 the bush grows thick, and close to the water, might, just as likely as not, 

 plump headlong into the hottest of the w;ater before being aware of its 

 existence. 



" Te Puia" is simply a sudden pool in the fiat forest land, with the 

 water about two feet below the general level around, and with a perpen- 

 dicular clay bank forming its margin all round. The pool is somewhat 

 the shape of a kidney potatoe, and measures along its greatest length, 

 between perpendiculars from each end, sixty-eight feet, and in the same 

 manner across, twenty-one feet. The depth of the pool I could not 

 measure, as the Maoris have wisely filled it in, to within about three feet of 

 the surface of the water with branches of trees, so as to afford any poor beggar, 

 who might accidentally tumble in, a chance of getting out again before being 

 parboiled. A log is placed across the pool, just above the surface of the water, 

 to enable the natives visiting it to take advantage of the hottest part for cooking 

 their potatoes, eggs, or " kai " generally. At the only part where it is at all pos- 

 sible to bear the heat of the water logs are also placed, coincident with the surface 

 of the water, for the convenience of bathers. Nor let it be supposed that these 

 rude appliances were at all unnecessary. I can assure you that it would take more 

 nerve than I am possessed of, to have induced me to walk out on the log at the 

 hottest part. I am not much afraid of water, but to run the risk of being boiled 

 alive is quite another thing, and would make most men pause before risking it 

 uselessly. In order to get the temperature of this part of the spring, I adopted 

 another plan than that provided by the Maoris. I cut a long pole in the bush, 

 and tied my thermometer by a string to the end of it, and thus dipped it into 

 the hottest part. However, T found the logs at the other part of the spring 

 of the greatest service, when I had prepared myself for a bath, and when, of 

 course, the lady portion of the party had satisfied their curiosity and retired. 

 At first I could only stand on the log, and dip the tips of my toes in the 

 water, and gradually, inch by inch, descended deeper, till I was able to intro- 

 duce my whole body up to the chin. Whilst thus immersed, my sensations were 

 too hot to be pleasant. Every moment I felt as if the crown of my head was 

 coming off, I was however determined to do the hot spring thoroughly, and 

 knew that assistance was at hand to take me out at once had I fainted. 

 To move much in the water, or bathe, in the ordinary acceptation of the term, 

 was too painful to be endured. 



Before disturbing the pool, the water was clear, and of a faint-blue tint ■ 

 the branches, etc., forming the artificial bottom, being covered with the same 

 bright malachite-green deposit, I have mentioned before as characterising the 

 stream which flows from it. What this beautiful green deposit is I cannot say. 

 On disturbing the water, however, it disappeared immediately, and the whole 

 pool became of a white milky colour. 



At the hottest part the water was not boiling, but effervescing like 

 ginger beer, and vapour occasionally rose from it. Here I found the 

 temperature, by an ordinary tin thermometer, to be 168° Fak., a foot below 

 the surface. At the place where I bathed the temperature was 113° Fah. 

 The temperature of the air at the same time being 68°. The Maoris said that 

 the spring was not so hot at that time as it sometimes is, and that they often 

 cook their potatoes and other kai, quite easily in it. At the above temperature 

 (168°) they could not do this, and I was inclined then to view this and other 

 stories which I heard of scalding pigs, boiling eggs, etc. , to be myths rather than 

 actual facts, till Dr. Hector suggested to me the likelihood of its being an inter- 

 mittent spring ; and since perusing the remarks of Hochstetter, which I have read 

 to you, upon the name " Te Puia" being applied, in general, to all intermittent 

 springs whose temperature varies .; and also some remarks of Captain Hutton 



