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peculiar to the torrid zone are produced. The first seeds of those 
ferns , however, must have been wafted thither by atmospheric cur- 
rents from the tropical regions of Australia or America, or from 
the tropical islands of the South -sea. On both sides of the Wai- 
kite there are no doubt upward of 20 boiling wells to be counted; 
their discharges flow into the creek, the temperature of which 
is consequently considerably raised. 
At the Waikite we left the Pairoa line, and following a small 
valley we ascended in a northerly direction the Whaihorapa-Plateau. 
We passed two grassy plains, which like drained lakes form basins 
in the plateau. The first plain bearing the name of Waihorapa, 
was especially remarkable for a large , at some places widely gap- 
ing rent of the ground, which could be traced for a whole mile, 
in the direction of N. 24° E. , consequently parallel with the Pairoa- 
fissure; moreover for numerous funnel-shaped holes, 20 to 30 feet 
deep, reminding us of the funnel-shaped holes in the soil of Ca- 
labria. Those phenomena are no doubt produced by earthquakes, 
by which the country is said to be very frequently visited. 
The Horohoro Mountain. 
Upon an open height we had a clear view of the Horohoro 
Mountain six miles to the West, which acts a prominent part in 
the Maori-traditions. It is one of the most striking table-mount- 
ains of the country, rising isolated from the plain with vertical 
sides, a remaining fragment of the formerly unbroken table -land. 
Thence our road lay through bush for a short distance , and des- 
cending through a dry valley we came to the charming shores of 
the Roto-Kakahi (muscle -lake). 
Thus we had reached the first lake of the Lake District, so 
famous for its numerous lakes and the beauty of its landscape. 
Like a miniature-picture of the magnificent Alpine lakes of Upper 
Italy, the little lake with the picturesque island Motutawa in the 
