basins represent as many natural bathing-basins, which the most 
refined luxury could not have prepared in a more splendid and 
commodious style. The basins can be chosen shallow or deep, 
large or small, and of every variety of temperature, as the basins 
upon the higher stages, nearer to the main-basin, contain warmer 
water than those upon the lower ones. Some of the basins are so 
large and so deep, that one can easily swim about in them. 
In ascending the steps , it is, of course, necessary to wade in the 
tepid water, which spreads beside the lower basins upon the plat- 
form of the stages, but rarely reaching above the ankle. During 
violent water-eruptions from the main-basin , steaming cascades mav 
occyr ; at ordinary times, but very little water ripples over the 
terraces; and only the principal discharge on the Southside forms 
a hot steaming fall. After reaching the highest terrace, there is 
a extensive platform with a number of basins, 5 to (3 feet deep, 
their water showing a temperature of 00 to 110° F. In the middle 
of this platform, there arises, close to the brink of the main-basin, 
a kind of rock-island about 12 feet high, decked with Manuka, 
mosses, lycopodium and fern. It may be visited without danger, 
and from it the curious traveller has a fair and full view into the 
blue, boiling and steaming cauldron. Such is the famous Tetarata. 
The pure white of the silicious deposit in contrast with the blue 
of the water, with the green of the surrounding vegetation, and 
with the intensive red of the bare earth-walls of the water-crater, 
the whirling clouds of steam , — all together presents a scene un- 
equalled in its kind. The scientific collector, on the other hand, 
has ample opportunity of filling whole baskets with the most beau- 
tiful specimens of the tendcrest stalactites , of incrustated branches, 
leaves etc. ; for whatever lies upon the terraces, becomes incrustated 
in a very short time. 
From the foot of Tetarata fountain a path leads on the slope 
of the hill to the great Ngahapu (alias Oliapu). This fountain, 
shut up in by a thicket of shrubs, lies close by the margin of the 
shore, about 10 feet above the level of the lake. The colossal 
column of steam continually ascending from it betrays its locality 
