172 Scientific Intelligence. 
almost entirely consumed, we determined to push on. Keeping along 
the ridge, which forms the northern boundary of a thickly timbered 
valley that leads into that of the Jackson, we travelled for about one and 
a half miles before commencing the descent. From the ridge, the slope 
down to the former is grassy and undulating, with no timber, but dotted 
thickly with small lakes surrounded by peat. The whole surface of this 
grassy slope is cut up by numerous rents or fissures, indicating, probably, 
that this region had been formerly visited by earthquakes. 
**It was about noon before we descended into the woods; the thick 
masses of decayed vegetation, overgrown by mosses and undergrowth, 
served to fill up the spaces between the rugged angular masses of rock, 
which on this portion of the Pigeon Mountain seemed to be detached 
from the mountain side. Great care was taken in passing over this first 
part of the journey, as sometimes treacherous holes lay concealed beneath 
a spongy layer of moss and rotten wood. The tomatacowra, that painful 
impediment to the traveller, does not exist in the woods of the west, and 
the bayonette grass, equally cruel, is of exceedingly rare occurrence. This 
is undoubtedly owing to the woods having never been devastated by fires. 
The latter fact is remarkable, and affords a strong presumption that for a 
great number of years perhaps never have these localities been traversed 
by man. A succession of deep descents, occupied by splendid timber (the 
Totara being the forest king) led us to the edge of the most thickly-clad 
flat which occurs at the forks of the Jackson and Haast Rivers. Just as 
darkness had set in we struck the margin of the latter, and, for the first 
time since starting, retired to rest supperless. 
‘‘ The magnificence of the primeval forests of the West Coast must be 
seen to be thoroughly appreciated. Not only do the Totara and beech 
attain gigantic proportions, but the Fuchsia and Tutu become very large 
trees, averaging two feet in thickness. 
‘Our camp on the bank of the Haast was uncomfortable in the ex- 
treme; the rain poured down on us in torrents, saturating us in a short 
time, while the myriads of musquitoes made a sortie from the bush, and 
kept us in a perfect state of fever the whole night. With the dawn of 
the following morning, the 23d, in a tropical-like flood of rain, and with 
no breakfast, we were fortunate enough to strike probably the only ford 
for some distance at about a mile above the forks, and proceeded by the 
flats about four miles down the valley of the Jackson. The rain had evi- 
dently set in for a lengthened period, and although this was the first long 
continuation of wet weather we had experienced since leaving Dunedin, 
it was a circumstance greatly to be regretted, seeing that we were now 
only about eight miles from the sea, and the rapidly increasing flood of 
the river was the greatest obstacle to our reaching its mouth. Taking 
into consideration also the density of the woods, and the distance we 
should have to travel before obtai:ing further supplies, Dr Hector 
thought it advisable to abandon the project of descending the valley fur- 
ther. The accomplishment of the journey to the very brink of the ocean, 
under present circumstances, would have been at a great risk; while, on 
the other hand, with sufficient provisions and moderate weather, the work 
would have been the easiest which had fallen to our share since leaving 
the central camp on the Matukituki.”’ 
List of Publications received is postponed till October Number. 
