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by the natives, and lodged in a house built in European style. 
The Chief Tioriori being not at home, his wife, a portly Maori- 
woman, acted the kind and obliging hostess, and ere long a pig 
was killed and the tea ready. 
May 18. — Maungatautari is a trachytic mountain like the 
Pirongia on the Waipa , its highest peaks reaching a height of about 
2600 feet above the level of the sea. Along its eastern foot runs 
the Waikato. On its Northwest -side rises the Mangapiko, a con- 
siderable tributary of the Waipa, and towards West and North it 
extends its branches far off into the plains between the Waikato 
and Waipa. 
From Tiorirori’s Pah on the northern slope of the mountain 
I dispatched one half of my party down the Waikato, which com- 
mences to be navigable in the vicinity of Horotiu below the Hau- 
tupu and Paratoketoke rapids; myself and my friend Dr. Haast 
taking a westerly course, pursuant to a friendly invitation on the 
part of the llev. Mr. Morgan to visit Eangiawhia and Otawhao. 
In Kirikiriroa on the Waikato we were to meet again. It was a 
bright and pleasant day. Upon the height of the Pukekura I met 
a Maori messenger with two saddle-horses, sent for us by the Rev. 
Mr. Morgan. We had to cross the Mangapiko creek, and were on 
the other side most kindly received by Mr. Ireland, the teacher 
of Otawhao, who had come to meet us with no loss than nine 
saddle-horses, which the natives of Eangiawhia had placed at our 
service. It was a pleasing moment indeed, as we met there together, 
mounted the horses and gall upped gaily along. The direct road 
to Eangiawhia across the large swamps of the Mangapiko is im- 
passable for hoi'ses. Mr. Morgan, therefore, had for years past 
made a special path for horseback-travelling, which leads over the 
gap running West from the Maungatautari and across the Whanake 
mountain. It continues quite steep up-hill and down-hill; but on 
arriving at the top a magnificent prospect over the Waikato country 
from the Pirongia in the West to the Aroha in the East affords 
ample indemnification for the fatiguing ascent; and even the Tau- 
piri in the North we had the pleasure of hailing again. 
