May.] 
PASSAGE OVER RIVERS. 
219 
two feet under the surface of the mud. We 
hesitated for some time about attempting the pas- 
sage, but hearing that no other possible way of 
getting over could be discovered, we of course 
determined to make the attempt. The first 
waggon descended rapidly and sunk into the 
mud up to the axle, and the oxen up to their 
bellies ; however, by great exertion, the oxen 
succeeded in dragging it through, and afterwards 
up the high steep bank on the opposite side.— 
The other two waggons were equally successful. 
When we had gained the opposite bank of 
the Lukoowhai, an extensive but beautiful as- 
cending valley appeared before us, the hills on 
each side were clothed with trees like those we 
had just passed. The serpentine bed of a river, 
which flowed down the valley, proved troublesome 
to the waggons, from the number of times we were 
obliged to cross it. About one p.m. we arrived 
at its source, where we found our elevation to be 
nearly equal to any of the surrounding hills, yet 
the descent was so gradual that it rather re- 
sembled a plain than a declivity. To the west- 
ward we saw a chain of hills running from south 
to north, which were lost in the northern hori- 
zon; another chain before us ran from west to 
east. The general prospect greatly resembled 
Welch scenery, only every tree, bush, bird, and 
insect, were completely different. Some of the 
