423 
May 4. — At breakfast-time, Pini te korekore again made 
his appearance in my tent, requesting with a solemn air my pre- 
sence at a most peculiar ceremony. Round about in a circle sat 
the men of the village. In the middle was a fat pig tied to a 
post; by the side of it stood six baskets full of potatoes and kuma- 
ras, and a heavy sack of flour lay across them. The chief stepped 
forth into the circle, addressed some kind words to the assembled 
audience, and by his touching with a rod the pig, the potatoes 
and the sack of flour, at the same time pronouncing my name 
“Te Rata Hokiteta,” they were dedicated to me and my compa- 
nions, according to Maori custom, as a present offered in his own 
and his people’s name. Captain Hay in the Maori language re- 
turned in my name our sincerest thanks for the hospitable gift. 
After breakfast I ascended the Ngongotalia mountain and on 
arriving at the top I was greatly rejoiced to have an extensive 
view in all directions reaching to the shores of the Bay of Plenty, and 
as far as the volcanic island Whakari (White Island), which was 
seen emitting immense clouds of white steam. The afternoon was 
devoted to the inspection of the Pah and the examination of the 
hot springs. 
Ohinemutu still bears to some degree the features of an old 
Maori Pah. The dwellings of the chiefs are surrounded with en- 
closures of pole-fences; and the Wliares and Wharepunis, some of 
them exhibiting very fine specimens of the Maori order of architec- 
ture , are ornamented with grotesque wood-carvings. The annexed 
wood-cut is intended as an illustration of some of them. The 
gable-figure with the lizard having six feet and two heads, is very 
remarkable; at no other place in New Zealand have I seen a 
similar representation. The human figures are no idols, but are 
intended to represent departed sires of the present generation. The 
huts of the village are scattered over a considerable area on both 
sides of the Ruapeka Bay and on the slope of the hill Puke Roa 
arising to about 150 feet above the lake. Ohinemutu lias a 
protestant and a catholic church. The place is noted far and near 
for its hot springs and for its excellent warm baths (Waiariki). 
