222 Physical Geography of 



more water than the Taramakau. The sources of the former are 

 situated on the southern slopes of Mount Harman, in that cluster of 

 snow-covered mountains which the Maoris designate as the Kaimatau. 

 Below the junction of the Taipo the valley narrows, the river breaking 

 through the granite coast chain, and only enlarging its bed again 

 near its mouth. 



The Arahura empties itself into the sea, about 10 miles below 

 the mouth of the Taramakau. Its main source issues from Lake 

 Browning (4616 feet above the sea level), which lies close to the 

 summit of Browning's Pass. After flowing for about eight miles in a 

 northerly direction, between high snow-covered ranges, with pre- 

 cipitous banks, it turns to the west-north-west, keeping this general 

 course to its mouth. It here flows through a succession of deep 

 gorges for a distance of 22 miles, measured in a straight line, its 

 valley becoming more open about nine miles from the coast. The 

 portion of its bed between the Wooded saddle (Griffith's Pass), leading 

 from the upper Arahura into the Styx and the junction of the 

 Kawhaka creek, is unknown to me ; however, it has been surveyed 

 along its whole course by the Westland Survey Department, through 

 which I received the description of its characteristic features, 



The Hokitika. 



The Hokitika is the next river which claims our attention. It drains 

 a considerable portion of the Southern Alps, about 30 miles in extent 

 along the divide, nearly of the same size as that drained by the Eakaia 

 branches, to which its sources geuerally lie opposite. Its main branch 

 owes its origin to the Sale glacier (1183 feet above the sea level), 

 descending the north-eastern slopes of Mount White ombe, close to 

 Whitcombe Pass. For about 13 miles it has a nearly straight north- 

 north-east course, flowing in a deep channel amongst lofty snow-clad 

 ranges, first over large blocks and afterwards in a narrow shingle-bed ; 

 then entering the wooded ranges, it forms a succession of waterfalls 

 and rapids. It turns then to the north -north-west, and receives 

 numerous affluents from both sides, those from the eastern ranges 

 being the largest. After a course of six miles it enters the Hokitika 

 plains, but before doing so, it flows through a deep gorge with rocky 

 vertical banks, the water appearing stagnant, being so deep that no 

 bottom could be felt with the longest pole available. Two causes 

 combine for the formation of this remarkable gorge, nearly half a mile 



