ME. J. MARTIN ON THE TEEEACES OF EOTOMAHANA. 



177 



surrounded by a level rim, in width from 5 to 30 feet. The great 

 basin appeared to be always full of deep-blue boiling water, edged 

 with sulphur and enshrouded by a veil of steam. Usually overflowing 

 without agitation, it was occasionally disturbed by wave-like 

 upheavals. Its margin could only be approached at one part of its 

 circumference, where soundings gave a depth of fifteen feet, and the 

 wall just below the surface was seen set with spiny ridges. 



Near the centre of the boiling lake was a dome or mass of spongy 

 sinter, which could be seen only when the steam drifted away and 

 the surface was unruffled. 



By the terrible catastrophe of June 10, 1886, the waters of lakes 

 Hotomakiriri and Eotomahana were drawn into the newly opened 

 fissure, which had originated at the base of Enawahia or Tarawera, 

 and by the extraordinary explosions which succeeded, the terraces 

 of Rotomahana were blown away, and wide steaming areas of 

 desolation are all that remain to mark the site of these once world- 

 renowned structures. 



(For the Discussion on this paper, see p. 188.) 



