Terraces in the upper Waipa valley. 
a, Trachytic tuff, b. Pumice-stone gravel and sand. c. River alluvium, d. Red of the Waipa. 
and another bluff, 80 to 100 feet high, leads to an extensive 
table-land consisting of trachytic tuffs, above which wood-clad rid- 
ges arise, and at a greater distance a number of extinct volcanic 
cones, such as the Puketarata, the Taurangakoho and others. From 
the terraces every vestige of the primitive forests lias long dis- 
appeared; only isolated Ti-trees , Phormium-bushes , here and there 
groups of Kahikatea-pines, and the settlements of the natives, inter- 
rupt the broad, monotonous fern-covered plains. 
The first small settlement we came to, about five miles from 
Read’s, is called Awatoitoi, it consisted of six scanty huts. One 
mile farther up on the left bank is Tuahu. Another mile farther 
the Waipa receives the Mangaoronga , a considerable tributary from 
the right. Upon the peninsula formed by the confluence of the 
two rivers towers the ancient Maori-castle Tohorewa with steep 
cliffs, 60 to 80 feet high. The rugged rocks, upon which in olden 
times a pah stood, consist of a compact trachytic tuff containing 
pumice-stone. Large blocks of it are scattered around. Having 
crossed the Mangaoronga, we passed along the foot of the old pah 
on to the height of the table-land, which the natives here call 
Kareauwaha. There is a beautiful prospect far over the broad valley 
of the Waipa with its terraces and native settlements. On the 
right bank of the river is Kourapirau, meaning a place, where 
craw-fish cease to be found. The scattered huts farther up belong 
to Mohoanui and Orahiri. By an isolated conical rock, named 
Haereuku, our path turned towards the river. We crossed it at 
a place very shallow in consequence of sand and gravel -banks, 
and pitched our tents on the left bank near Orahiri. 
Orahiri is one of the chief points on the Upper Waipa. Hav- 
ing received two considerable tributaries from the left, the Manga pu 1 
1 The word Manga, so frequently occurring in river-names, signifies branch of 
a river, tributary. 
