160 Historical Notes on the 



with the restless waves of the eternal ocean on one side, and the ever- 

 changing foreground of rock, forest and small waterfalls on the other, 

 over which the high serrated alpine peaks towering grandly, and 

 appearing in such different forms as the traveller advances, that it is 

 often very difficult to recognise them again, — is full of delight and 

 invigorating enjoyment. 



The next few days were occupied with examining the nature of 

 the auriferous beds occurring in Bruce Bay, and in which polished 

 stone implements of great age were found. Bruce Bay is formed by 

 Heretanewha point, an ancient moraine advancing far into the sea, by 

 which it is sheltered from southerly and westerly winds. Inland the 

 moraine reposes upon metamorphic rocks, which form a nearly 

 perpendicular ridge about 600 feet high, running inland for a consider- 

 able distance. It is densely wooded on the summit, about 200 yards 

 broad, and falls just as precipitously on the opposite (south-western) 

 side. Deep below us lay a flat covered with dense vegetation. A 

 number of ponds are lying amongst the forest, and the whole has a 

 very marshy appearance. It without doubt owes its existence, like so 

 many other similar flats between the moraines, to the shingle bar 

 thrown up between the two headlands, by which a deep indentation of 

 the sea was cut off, the lagoon thus formed having gradually been 

 filled up by alluvium brought from the mountain sides, and afterwards 

 by decaying vegetation. In order to go south, where, owing to the 

 very rough nature of the coast, it would have taken me considerable 

 time to reach the mouth of the Haast river by land, I decided to hire 

 a small boat belonging to the storekeeper, described to me as a whale- 

 boat, but which, after all. was only a dingy with a square stern. 

 Although Bruce Bay is one of the most sheltered spots on that portion 

 of the West Coast, we had to wait a day before we could proceed on 

 our hazardous journey, the surf being too heavy for the boat to be 

 launched. At last, early on the morning of the 20th of ^larch. the sea 

 was so calm that we could venture to take the boat across the surf. It 

 was a glorious bright morning, the sea smooth, and the air invigorating, 

 as with a light breeze we proceeded merrily on our voyage. The mouth 

 of the Piringa river was reached about eight o'clock, which river being 

 well protected from the south by rocky cliffs and reefs, afforded us au 

 entrance without the least trouble. I have no doubt that in years to 

 come, when that portion of Xew Zealand is more settled, a good 

 harbour can easily be provided in that -locality. Before proceeding up 

 the river, I examined the rocks on its southern banks, and found them 



