164 Historical Notes on the 



been shaped into wild picturesque forms. In one of these excursions, 

 I followed the coast to Taupari Kaka Point, about four miles from our 

 camp, crossing the Kotohakorakora creek on my way. After having 

 passed Arnott Point, we travelled mostly on a soft sandy beach, by 

 which our progress was much accelerated. One of my companions 

 informed me that eighteen months previously there had been scarcely 

 a particle of sand the whole distance ; that in fact, the sea had washed 

 against the perpendicular rocks, and that when returning with a party 

 of gold-diggers from the Haast river, they had to climb over large 

 boulders which then formed the sea beach. Therefore here, as well as 

 other pcrtrciii *,! the coast, the sands which are thrown up during 

 one heavy storm, are again washed away by another. Prom Taupari 

 Kaka Point, which is the last rocky promontory before reaching 

 Jackson's Pay, a very extensive panoramic view is obtained. The line 

 of sandy beach stretches as far south as the eye can reach, and behind 

 it appear wide forest-clad plains, which I have no doubt will some day 

 be extensively used for agricultural and pastoral purposes, after the 

 fine timber has been utilized and exported to less favoured districts. 

 Above them rise the coast ranges, also covered with dark forests for a 

 considerable height — a few snow-covered peaks towering above them. 

 The ranges behind our camp were also repeatedly ascended. Their 

 summits consisted mostly of grits and conglomerates, with black car- 

 bonaceous markings, similar to those in the Grey and Buller coal-fields, 

 but I failed to find any proper coal seams. Owing to the impenetrable 

 character of the luxuriant forest and usual thick covering of moss on 

 the ground, it is exceedingly difficult to obtain iu these ranges any 

 clear sections, which can, therefore, only be observed along the coast 

 line, in precipices, waterfalls, or similar exposed positions. From the 

 summit of the range behind our camp, about 1500 feet high, we had a 

 very fine view over the wooded coast ranges, some of the alpine peaks 

 appearing in various directions above them, whilst deep below us, the 

 blue sea lay spread out, looking very quiet and peaceful. My com- 

 panion, Mr. Docherty, who had had great experience in kiwi and kakapo 

 hunting, had a well-trained dog for that purpose with him. In this 

 district, so seldom disturbed by man, these two night-birds were still 

 abundant, especially the Apteryx, of which, sometimes, in one afternoon 

 we secured as many as ten. I was thus able to study their mode of 

 living, observe their holes and hiding places, and moreover, could, with 

 the assistance of my companions, whom I taught skinning, prepare a 

 large number of skins. On the 22nd of March, it seemed that at last 

 we might manage to leave our little haven; so we made everything 



