369 
the very brim so that it ran 
over into the second basin. 
In this basin , eight feet 
wide , grayish white mud 
was boiling, which showed 
a temperature of 188 0 F. , tit 
1 The Pinas at Tokanu on Lake iaupo. 
The third basin contained 
again clear boiling water. All three basins are lined with crusts of 
silicious deposit , and bear to each other a relation of periodical ex- 
change, so that No. 1 is filled, while in No s . 2 and 3 the water 
falls, and vice versa. The natives likewise assert, that the middle 
basin which I beheld only as a boiling mud pool, was in March 
and April of 1846 an immense geyser, throwing out a spout of 
hot water to a height of nearly 100 feet, so that the village was 
completely flooded by it. It is evident also from other sources, 
that in that range of springs continual changes are going on, and 
that those phenomena are periodical with a great many of the 
springs, similar to the Geyser and St r older in Iceland. 
A crust of silicious deposit, three feet thick, under which fine 
clayey mud is bedded, covers the larger portion of the spring- 
region. In smaller apertures, from which nothing but hot steam 
emanates, the thermometer rises to 208° F. Here also the natives 
employ the steam-fissures for cooking; they have special huts for 
the winter , erected upon warm ground. They call the hot springs 
Puia , distinguishing Papa Puia , springs with clear water , yielding 
silicious deposits, and Uku Puia, the boiling mud-pools and small 
mud cones. Of sulphuric acid or of sulphuretted hydrogen I could 
discover in this spring-region only faint traces. I believe, if any 
one at Tokanu or on the declivity of the Karakamea would en- 
deavour to count the several spots, which give out either hot water, 
steam, or boiling mud, he would find more than 500 of them. 
This, however, is only one, nor by far the most important of 
those numerous hot spring regions of the North Island. 1 
The settlement Tokanu is noted for a magnificent Wharepuni, 
1 See Chapter XVIII. 
Hochstetter, New Zealand. 24 
