Dec. 1835. 



WAIMATE. 



511 



be impenetrable to an extraordinary degree. Mr. Mat- 

 thews gave me an account of one^ which^ although only 

 thirty-four miles wide^, and separating two inhabited districts, 

 like the central forest of Chiloe, had never been passed until 

 lately. He and another missionary, each with a party of 

 about fifty men, undertook to open a road : but it cost them 

 more than a fortnight's labour ! In the woods I saw very 

 few birds. With regard to animals, it is a most remarkable 

 fact, that so large an island, extending over more than 7^0 

 miles in latitude, and in many parts ninety broad, with 

 varied stations, a fine climate, and land of all heights, from 

 14,000 feet downwards, with the exception of a small rat, 

 should not possess one indigenous animal. It is moreover 

 said, that the introduction of the common Norway kind, 

 has annihilated from the northern extremity of the island, 

 the New Zealand species, in the short space of two years. 

 In many places I noticed several sorts of weeds, which, like 

 the rats, I was forced to own as countrymen. A leek, 

 however, which has overrun whole districts, and will be 

 very troublesome, was imported lately by the favour of a 

 French vessel. The common dock is widely disseminated, 

 and will, I am afraid, for ever remain a proof of the rascality 

 of an Englishman, who sold the seeds for those of the 

 tobacco-plant. 



On returning from our pleasant walk to the houses, I 

 dined with Mr. Williams ; and then, a horse being lent me, 

 I returned to the Bay of Islands. I took leave of the 

 missionaries, with thankfulness for their kind welcome, and 

 with feelings of high respect for their gentleman- like, useful, 

 and upright characters. I think it would be difficult to find 

 a body of men better adapted for the high office which they 

 fulfil. 



Christmas-day.— In a few more days, the fourth year 

 of our absence from England will be completed. Our first 

 Christmas-day was spent at Plymouth; the second at St. 

 Martin's Cove, near Cape Horn ; the third at Port Desire, 

 in Patagonia; the fourth at anchor in a harbour in the 



