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from afar. The basin is oval, 40 feet long, 30 feet wide; the 
water in it clear and transparent, but nearly always in a terrific 
state of ebullition; it is but for some short moments, that the basin 
relapses into a calm repose; then it boils up madly anew, now 
more on this side, now on that, raising its foaming crest; the water 
is thrown up to a height of 8 to 10 feet and a terrific surf of 
boiling hot waves lashes the walls of the basin with wild up- 
roar, so that the observer stricken with awe shrinks back from the 
scene. But the elevated margin of silicious deposit prevents the 
free overflow of the water. The natives constructed an artificial 
outlet, conducting the water to several bathing-basins. The thermo- 
meter rose in the hot spring to 210° F. ; the water having a slight 
reddening effect on blue litmus-paper. The silicious deposits of 
the fountain have a smutty brown colour, and in the rear on the 
hill-side, where steam is rising from crevices and fissures, there 
also sulphur-crusts are found. The little Ngahapu, a basin in which 
turbid, muddy water is bubbling, lies farther up on the hill; but 
it is difficult of access. 
Nearest to the great Ngahapu, more to the South, and close 
to the shore is Te Takapo, an incrustated basin, 10 feet long and 
8 feet wide, with clear, gently boiling water of 200° F. Some- 
times this fountain is said to rise in a jet 30 to 40 feet high. 
The numerous smaller springs, bubbling mud-pools, and tabular, 
lightly incrustated holes along the shore between Tetarata and 
Tetakapo bear no special names. Near Tetakapo there are some 
deserted huts, and a few yards farther there is a ravine, called 
Waikana-panapa (the coruscating water), extending in a N. E. direc- 
tion for a short quarter of a mile, in the background of which 
lies the Rotopunamu (green lake). The entrance to the ravine is 
overgrown with thicket, and rather difficult; it also requires con- 
siderable caution, because very suspicious places have to be passed, 
where the traveller is in danger of being swallowed up in 
heated mud. The inside of the ravine has the appearance of a 
volcanic crater. The bare walls, utterly destitute of vegetation, 
are terribly fissured and torn; odd-looking, rocky serratures threat- 
