124 Historical Notes on the 



being here divided into several branches we forded it easily on horse- 

 back. Having decided to ascend, first, the principal branch of the 

 Bakaia, of which the original name has been preserved, I followed the 

 track leading from ]\Ir. Xeave's home station along the base of Mount 

 Algidas to the Mathias branch, 



Magnificent weather had set in, and the rivers fell very low, so that 

 the crossing of the Mathias conld easily be accomplished, even on 

 foot. Fagus Solcr/idri, the white birch of the settlers, hitherto the 

 prevailing tree, now begins to occur more in groves, and sub-alpine 

 shrubs and trees, belonging principally to the Comjjositcd, Scrophula- 

 rinecB, Jtuhiacecz, Ericew, and Coniferoe, are mixed with that handsome 

 sub-alpine tree, giving to the landscape a park-like appearance, the 

 effect of its fine shape and foliage being heightened by the various 

 tints, from pale greyish green to dark brown, by which it is surrounded. 

 This lower vegetation is succeeded by alpine meadows studded with 

 flowers, over which the rugged weather-beaten rocks, forming gigantic 

 peaks, rise in wild majesty. Before us the grand Arrowsmith range 

 rose every moment more and more con&picuously, forming the back- 

 ground of the valley with its splendid peaks and needles. 



Seven miles above the junction of the Mathias the river sets against 

 its northern banks, which are covered with dense vegetation, and rise 

 nearly perpendicularly above the water for a considerable altitude- 

 It was therefore necessary to cross to the other side, and although the 

 river was low, it was not a pleasant task, owing to its rapid fall and 

 the large boulders in its bed. Our road lay now on the southern side 

 across a grassy flat, mostly overgrown with the same dense vegetation 

 met with on the banks of all our river-flats, namely, the spiny Wild- 

 Irishman, and the bayonet-like Spaniard (Aciphylla Lyallii). We 

 crossed some considerable water-courses, mostly from glaciers of 

 second order, which here entered the valley from the Arrowsmith 

 range. 



Arrived at the point which projects farthest into the river-bed from 

 that range, a very remarkable view opens before the traveller. The 

 valley, still more than a mile wide, stretches for six miles towards 

 the west, and is entirely covered by alluvial accumulations, often 

 consisting of large blocks, over which the river, frequently divided 

 into several branches, rushes with fury. The aspect of such a valley 

 is bleak and cold in the extreme, for at a few miles distance it is not 

 possible to distinguish the turbid water of the meandering river from 



