Miscellaneous. 169 
a means of again descending into the immediate valley of the stream. In 
the gorge, the channel is beset with huge boulders, rendering the river 
for some distance a series of foaming rapids, as well as preventing any 
track being practicable along the edge of its waters. Just above the 
gorge, through a narrow fissure in the mountains, there is a fine view of 
the glaciers which clothe the southern flanks of Mount Aspiring. 
“The Matukituki in this part of its course flows due south, and we 
were now within a few miles of the boundary line of the Province of Can- 
terbury, which crosses it at right angles, and opposite to a depression in 
the mountains to the westward which from a distance had seemed favour- 
able to our further progress to the west, and from which there issued a 
large tributary to the river. As it was Dr Hector’s wish to keep as close 
to the boundary line as possible, and within the province of Otago, he 
devoted the 15th in searching for a pass in this direction. By a laborious 
climb, he ascended the mountains to a height of about 5000 feet, but 
could observe no available route, as the extent of the nick, or depression, 
-was deceptive, and confined to the exterior range bordering the valley ; 
while to the westward a succession of lofty mountains rose from an exten- 
sive mer de glace. To the north, however, he perceived that, by following 
the Matukituki to its source, a comparatively low saddle would lead into a 
region of country in which the mountains appeared to have a lesser eleva- 
tion. He resolved, therefore, to make the first attempt in this direction. 
“On the 16th we continued our journey along the edge of the river, 
climbing over the huge boulders which are dispersed along its margin. 
The mountains on either side of the stream present cliffs quite per- 
pendicular to its waters, so that we were compelled to climb a spur and 
pass through the woods to avoid the obstacles which they thus offered to 
our progress. Passing through the thick woods, which are intersected by 
deep cuttings choked with fern, scrub, and masses of decayed vegetation, 
we again descended to the boulders in the bed of the river, and following 
it a short distance, merged on a small plain about a mile and a half long, 
and occupying almost the whole breadth of the valley. We encamped 
here, at the foot of a strip of mountain, which some time previous had 
been cleared of forest by the violence of a recent avalanche. A mass of 
trees torn up by the roots, and surrounded by an enormous quantity of 
rock, lay piled around us, an indication of the tremendous power which 
produced such ruin. The ascent towards the source of the Matukituki 
from this point is very rapid, and at the distance of about three miles from 
it the first glacier is met. It is very insignificant, indeed scarcely deserv- 
ing the name. From the ice cave, at its lowest extremity, a small stream 
flows to the main channel, which, both above and below their junction, is 
contracted and rocky, causing the river to assume the character of a series 
of foaming cascades. Four miles still further up the valley, we attained 
the limit of the woods ; and although early in the afternoon, we encamped 
at this place, as we should get no fuel until we had crossed the saddle and 
descended to the limit of the woods on the other side. The altitude at 
which this limit on the eastern side of the saddle is observable is about 
3500 feet above the sea. From this point to the base of the height of 
land, the river valley is extremely rugged, being occupied by old glaciers 
presenting the general chaos common to all moraines,—viz., a confused 
mass of angular and smoothly worn boulders distributed without any re- 
gard of size, or order of deposit. 
‘* We were now at the most north-westerly portion of the province of 
Otago, and close to the boundary line which separates it from that of 
Canterbury, having followed the largest tributary of the Molyneux to its 
source. By asteep climb, we gained the summit of the saddle, follow- 
ing the course of the larger of the minor arms of the Matukituki, travelling 
NEW SERIES.—VOL, XVIII. NO. 1.—JuLy 1863. a“ 
