358 
were the most prominent points. In clear weather , Mt. Egmont 
also is said to be visible from here. The Pnketapu is moreover 
especially remarkable for the circumstance, that, in the midst of 
a landscape, in which every thing is covered by volcanic tuffs and 
pumicestone, it is composed of clay-slate of exactly the same de- 
scription as at the Taupiri on the Waikato. 
After leaving the Pnketapu we were continually in the bush; 
it seemed as though it would never come to an end. PTp and 
down, from ridge to ridge, from dale to dale; we passed the 
Waipari, then the Waione, cold creeks, the water of which 
showed a temperature as low as 50° F. Again we had to climb 
up-hill, over roots and logs in the sombre dusk of the bush, the 
huge crowns of the tall forests trees shutting out the light of day, 
and the sky being moreover veiled by dark, dismal clouds of rain. 
The magnificent fern Leptopteris hymenopiiylloides grows in those 
damp woods with a extraordinary luxuriance, in the shape of the 
variety called superba. At length we came to a small creek flow- 
ing in a direction different from that of all the other creeks wo 
had hitherto passed; it was the source of the Kuratao, running in 
a N. E. direction towards Lake Taupo, a sign that we had crossed 
the water-shed, and we hailed with joy the first indication of our 
having come quite close to our long looked — for destination. It was 
5 o’clock p. m. when we emerged once more from the darkness 
of the bush into open daylight. Involuntarily we all with one 
accord burst out into a loud shout of joy, as we stepped out upon 
the open, grassy plain. Of the lake, however, the sight of which 
we had expected to greet our longing eyes , there was as yet 
nothing to be seen. Put in its place two beautiful mountain- 
cones, the Kuliarua and the Kakaramea, rose before us. We had 
reached a pumicestone -plateau, called by the natives Moerangi, 
and 1 was greatly surprised at finding the result of my baro- 
metrical observations to show a height of 2188 feet. We pitched 
our tents by the banks of the Kuratao river, which, cutting 
through the pumicestone, forms a ravine about 100 feet deep with 
triple terraces. 
