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stone, which with a gentle inclination from the foot of the Tutukau- 
mountain extends into the Waikato. Close by the river bank lies, 
first of all , the Puia Te-mimi-a-Homaiterangi. 1 The manner, in 
which we practically experienced the intermittent properties of this 
fountain, proves sufficiently, how much caution is necessary in ap- 
proaching such springs for the first time and without expert guides. 
My travelling companions wished to enjoy the luxury of a river 
bath early in the morning, and had just deposited their clothes, 
when suddenly they heard violent detonations, and saw the water 
madly boiling up in a basin close by. They started back afright, 
but only just in time to escape a shower-bath of boiling water; for 
now amid hissing and roaring a steaming water-column was being 
ejected from the basin in a slanting direction , and to the height 
of about 20 feet. By the time I had heard of the treacherous geyser, 
and arrived at the place, every thing had long subsided again into 
quiet repose, and in the pot-like basin four to five feet wide I only 
saw water as clear as crystal gently bubbling up. It showed a tem- 
perature of 202° F , proved a perfectly neutral reagent, and tasted 
like weak broth. The first water-eruption, which 1 observed with my 
own eyes, took place at ll h 20' a. m. The basin, a short time pre- 
vious to the eruption, was full to the brim. Amid a distinctly 
audible, murmuring noise in the depth of the basin the water came 
more and more into violent ebullition, and then was suddenly ex- 
pelled with great force at an angle of 70 degrees in the direction 
of S.S.E. to a height of 20 to 30 feet. Together with the water 
huge volumes of steam burst forth from the basin with a loud his- 
sing sound, partly veiling the spout of water. This lasted one 
and a-half minutes, then the expelling force decreased, the water 
rose only two or three feet high, and after two minutes the play 
of water ceased entirely amid a low, gurgling noise. On now 
stepping up to the basin I found it empty, and was able to look down 
to a depth of eight feet, into a funnel-shaped, gradually contract- 
ing aperture, from which steam escaped with a hissing noise. 
Gradually the water rose again ; after the lapse of ten minutes the 
> Te mimi a Honiaiterangi literally means the urine of (the chief) Ilornaiterangi. 
