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young man of sullen mien was presented to us as the king’s son; 
the daughter of the king was just busy washing. We were invited 
to dinner, and were regaled with dried shark as a special delicacy. 
I admired the appetite of the Maoris, without however being able 
to prevail upon myself to join in; I was truly glad, when after 
dinner the ceremony ended and I had once more an opportunity 
of inhaling the fresh air in front of the royal hut. 
After a stay of two hours we paddled rapidly down the Wai- 
kato and enjoyed once more the tine scenery of the Taupiri range. 
After a short stop at the Taupiri Mission station, to greet the Rev. 
Mr. Asliwell , we proceeded down the river and took up our quar- 
ters for the night at Rangiriri. 
On the 22 d May a very heavy gale was blowing , which stirred 
up such waves upon the broad river, that we could not think of 
venturing to proceed in our heavily loaded canoe. The gale ended 
in the night with a violent tempest and heavy showers of rain. In 
the morning of the 23 rd the weather had cleared off so that we 
could continue our journey, and at 1 p. m. we landed at the Teia 
Creek, a little below the mouth of the Mangatawhiri. Thence we 
had to climb up and down a slippery hill , until we reached the 
house of an European settler at Mangatawhiri. After resting a short 
time, we thence set out to Drury. The Waipapa Creek near Manga- 
tawhiri having risen to such a size, that we were obliged to build 
a temporary bridge over it , in order to cross , we were detained 
so long, that it was already quite dark when we reached the Great 
South Road. Hence forth , we thought we should have easy tra- 
velling; but how sadly were we disappointed! Never have I seen 
anything, that is called a road, in such a condition. The Great 
South Road had more the appearance of a river or a marsh , where 
we sank in knee-deep , than of a road; moreover a heavy tempest 
broke loose , the rain poured down in torrents , and only the fre- 
quent flashes of lightning served to illume the darkness of the night. 
Yet notwithstanding all this we were determined to reach the 
Drury Hotel that same evening. The plight we finally arrived there 
at 9 p. m. , I need not describe. 
