A VISIT TO EOTO MAH AN A. 
465 
appear to revel in the warmth of their abode ; two of these 
islands present a singular appearance, being composed of 
mis-shapen rocks and ochreons hills, filled with boiling 
cauldrons and jets of vapour, intermingled with manuka 
trees and native huts, on reaching which, the stranger 
scarcely knows where to set his foot, lest he should tread on 
unsafe ground, the whole surface being heated, and over- 
spread with fragments of former puia. 
When we came to the border of the lake, two canoes put 
off from one of the islands, to convey us over ; being desirous 
of ascertaining the temperature of the water, I kept my hand 
in it whilst crossing, and found that it varied from 90° Fah. 
to almost boiling ; the difference in places may be attributed 
to the innumerable boiling springs at the bottom of the lake, 
the existence of which was detected on the surface, by their 
bubbling up and noise ; the lake appears to be of great depth, 
and the water had no peculiar flavour. 
On reaching the island, we were received by the native^ 
with a loud welcome ; and after a short stay, we went, during 
the culinary operations of our hosts, to examine one of the 
puia, or hot springs, in the vicinity, and a more remarkable 
place I never saw ; it had the appearance of an immense 
flight of white marble stairs, each step being from one to 
three feet in height, formed by a silicious deposit of the 
waters ; in some places of a beautiful pale pink color, over 
which about two inches of warm water fell. I ascended this 
magnificent and unequalled staircase, several parts of which 
were so slippery, that I had some difficulty in keeping my 
footing ; one of the steps presented merely a rim externally, 
and formed a basin, about four feet in depth, of beautifully 
clear water, having a greenish hue, like that of the lake over 
which we had passed ; neither of us could resist the tempt- 
ing luxury of the bath which was before us ; we found the 
temperature nearly a 100°, although it varied in each of 
the three compartments into which it was divided; after- 
wards, I ascended to the summit of the staircase, where there 
was a large level flat, the centre not being visible at first 
on account of the volume of steam which issued from it ; 
H H 
