162 Historical Kotes on the 



height. Merrily we pulled across it, and camped on the opposite side 

 on a charming little flat. For two days we remained in this secluded 

 spot, during which I examined its shores in every direction, and 

 ascended the principal affluent from which its waters are derived. 

 Waterfowl of every description abounded on the lake, and the calls of 

 the Kiwi and Kakapo were frequently heard during the night. ~We 

 also obtained a number of the large Xew Zealand bull-trout (Galaxias 

 alepidotus), which provided us with a good meal. It took the bait 

 much more readily than the eel, of which there were also many and 

 very large ones. 



On March the 12th, we returned to the mouth of the Piringa, after 

 having first ascended the main branch of the river for some distance 

 on foot. The high bluff on the northern side of the Piringa, which 

 cannot be passed by travellers except by climbing over its summit, was 

 next examined. On seeing the surf beating so strongly against the 

 cliffs, it was clear that only rocks of such an almost indestructible 

 nature as the melaphyres and brecciated greenstone beds which 

 here stand out into the sea, can so effectually resist the fury 

 of the waves. On the 13th of March, we embarked again in 

 our little boat, and after having gone south about seven miles, I 

 observed a change in the character of the rocks forming the coast-line, 

 so I gave orders to land at what appeared to be a somewhat sheltered 

 spot. Although the sea was very smooth, we had a very narrow escape 

 of upsetting the boat amongst the breakers ; however, after shipping a 

 considerable quantity of water when in the surf, we landed on the 

 beach near the mouth of a small creek, which one of my companions 

 designated as the Awa-kai-kato creek, and in the neighbourhood of 

 which the so-called Abbey rocks are situated. Several hours were 

 devoted to an investigation of the interesting sedimentary rocks, 

 occurring here along the coast, amongst which there are some excellent 

 limestones. One of my companions, Mr. W. Doeherty, has since dis- 

 covered, in the same district, some valuable lithographic stone, which 

 is now being quarried. In the afternoon, when I intended to continue 

 mv voyage south, the sea had risen, so that there was no chance of 

 getting across the surf; we were therefore obliged to camp on that 

 spot. Xext morning a light rain was falling, and the sea appeared 

 very smooth ; however, in crossing the breakers, we got a thorough 

 wetting, and shipped a great deal of water. Gradually the wind from 

 the north-west increased, and the sea became rougher every hour, but 

 our little boat behaved splendidly. "We were now running swiftly 



