449 
and it was not until reaching the Tima range which separates the 
Waiho valley from that of the Piako, that we stepped once more upon 
dry ground, where we could rest for dinner. The Tirua range (the 
name Idorokatoa has also been mentioned to me as belonging to 
the same range) is a low, woodless range of hills forming a spur 
of the volcanic table-land in the South and consisting of yellowish 
pumicestone-tuff. Beyond the Tirua range we had to cross first tire 
Mangaokahu creek, and then the Waitoa, the principal tributary 
of the Piako. The Piako itself rises more to the Northwest in the 
Maungakawa range, which separates the Piako plains from those of 
the Waikato; and here we meet again the singular case that the 
Waitoa, the main-river with a longer course and a greater supply 
of water, must surrender its name to the Piako at their junction. 
The crossing of the Waitoa, a stream not very broad, but very 
deep and rapid, was difficult and dangerous. One of the Maoris 
lost his balance in the swift current and was in great danger of 
being carried down a fall 20 feet high , a few yards further ; luckily, 
however, he succeeded in holding himself by some bushes on the 
bank , until we rescued him from his critical situation. At our place 
of crossing the valley was flat and swampy, but below the fall it 
changes to a deep gorge with vertical sides of pumicestone-tuff. 
One and a half miles from the Waitoa runs the Waikato , se- 
parated from the former only by low hills. After passing through 
a marshy flat between the Hinuwera and the Tekopua ridges, we 
reached the topmost terrace of the Waikato valley, about 200 feet 
above the river, and thence descended upon the second terrace, 
covered with Manuka bushes. A mile farther up we came to the 
remarkable place, where the mighty stream, narrowing to within 
30 feet, plunges roaring and foaming through a deep rocky gully; 
the only place narrow enough to admit of its being bridged over 
by the natives. The name of the place is Aniwhaniwha. It was 
already evening when we crossed the bridge, and pitched our tents 
on the left bank of the river upon the lowest terrace amongst a 
luxuriant growth of Manuka-bushes. Along a distance of about 18 
miles we had on that day passed not less than eight rivers, without, 
Ilochstetter, New Zealand. 29 
