355 



flow in chasms, which may be blocked up at any time by an avalanche, by a 

 fall of the cliifs, caused by an earthquake (as happened in the Rangitikei in 

 the year 1855), or by other causes ; an accumulation of water may be collected 

 in the bed of any of these rivei*s, which, when it bursts, would be dangerous to 

 any bridge not constructed with a clear waterway.* 



Abreast of Ruapehu we passed the stone on one side of which the 

 Wangaehu rises, flowing with bitter sulphureous water to the south. On the 

 other side the Waikato flows clear and bright towards Lake Taupo, but before 

 proceeding far it receives affluents whose waters resemble those of the 

 Wangaehu. The watershed of these rivers is the highest point on the road. 

 As we descended, vegetation improved in luxuriance, although all along the 

 bases of Ruapehu and Tongariro, the plants are alpine in character. Kahikatea 

 and black birch, full grown, but only a few feet in height, are common. The 

 mountain torrents are frequent and very beautiful, but their height and 

 rapidity during winter, and the depth of snow which is said to lie upon these 

 plains, may prove a great obstacle to a permanent road through this high 

 country, which shall be open throughout the year. We encamped on the 

 banks of one of these torrents called Waihohonu, I think the prettiest of 

 them all. 



On the following day we reached Roto Aira, a lake of considerable size, 

 lying under the northern slope of Tongariro, between it and Pihanga, an old 

 volcanic cone. At Roto Aira Ave found a considerable village. The inhabitants 

 were very civil, and after cooking food, supplied us with horses to ride to 

 Tokanu, a village situated on the delta of the Waikato, here called the Tongariro, 

 at the south end of Lake Taupo, which we reached in the evening. The river 

 flowing from Roto Aira falls into the same delta. 



The group of volcanic mountains which we had just passed, is of magnifi- 

 cent proportions, and if easily accessible, would attract many visitors. Ruapehu 

 is undoubtedly the most ancient cone, and is also the most elevated land in 

 the North Island, attaining a height of upwards of 9000 feet. Doubtless its 

 volcanic forces have long been extinct. It appeared to me to be composed of 

 the harder volcanic products. 



Tongariro lies to the north of Ruapehu, and is a mountain of great size, 

 but very infeidor in elevation to Ruapehu. 3STo visible signs of volcanic action 

 now appear from the interior of its crater, but the grand active cone of eruption, 

 called Ngauruhoe, 6200 feet high, is a lateral cone of this mountain, rising on 

 its southern slope, t 



My impression of Tongariro is, that when at its full elevation it must 

 have been a volcanic cone of very great magnitude, considerably exceeding 

 Ruapehu in height, but that the cone has fallen in, and the mountain is in 

 consequence truncated. 



Ngauruhoe is a regular cone of very graceful form, and reaches a height 

 of over 6000 feet. According to the natives, its last grand eruption occurred 

 about twenty-five years ago, when it threw out large quantities of stones ; its 

 top, they say, then fell in, and spoilt its beauty. 



It always seems to send out volumes of smoke, and is said frequently to 

 emit showers of fine ashes, which disagreeably affect the eyes. Rumbling 

 sounds and discharges, as of cannon, are said to proceed from it. 



It is a remarkable fact, however, that very few natives live in sight of the 

 mountain, and sufficiently near to give a good account of its phenomena. 

 From the village at Roto Aira, the cone of Ngauruhoe is invisible, and the 



* The character of these narrow chasms is shown in Plate 13. 



+ Since my visit, Dr. Hector has ascended Tongariro, and has found, and drawn, a 

 lake lying in the bottom of its crater. 



AAA 



