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passed eight small lakes or ponds and several deserted Pahs. After 
a ride of four hours we arrived at Kirikiriroa, a settlement on the 
left bank of the Waikato, where we met the other half of our 
party, who had arrived an hour before. The Waikato here has dug 
its bed with two terraces about 50 feet deep into the pumicestone 
and sand-alluvium. On the upper river terrace are the plantations 
of the natives. 
On the 21 st May we proceeded down the Waikato. Captain Hay 
had hired a large canoe for us, hewn out of a rimu-log, 64 feet long 
and 4 feet wide, in which our whole party consisting of twenty- 
five persons was easily accommodated together with all our luggage. 
We had twenty paddles; the morning was bright and pleasant. 
At 9 a. m. we pushed off from the bank and at 1 1 a. m. we 
landed at Ngaruawahia in front of the residence of the Maori King. 
Favored by the current of the river , we had paddled the distance 
of about fifteen miles in two hours. 
Ngaruawahia, residence of the Maori King Potatau in 1859. 
Our object was to pay a visit to the King Potatau. In the 
first hut we came to, we met the king’s private secretary Te Wetini 
To Tekerahi , a tall stout man with his face beautifully tattooed, 
his whole carriage and expression indicating pride and determina- 
tion. He received us very kindly, ordered forthwith dinner for 
the Maoris of my party, and went to acquaint the king with our 
arrival. We were soon informed by Te Wetini, that the king had 
