468 
A VISIT TO ROTO MAHANA. 
resembling a kind of moss, slightly petrified ; as I ascended 
I found the steps increase in height and width, each contain- 
ing one or more baths, some of cold water, others of warm, 
and some even of both in the same basin, in one of the largest 
my companion and two or three of the natives who accom- 
panied ns soon deposited themselves ; this noble bath was 
nearly fifty feet in length, and in parts too deep to wade 
through ; as I wished to ascend the higher steps to get a 
view of the boiling gulf, I requested my companion to call 
his dog which was following me ; in going up I found the 
water almost too hot for the naked feet, and therefore crept 
up along the sides where the manuka and fern were growing 
luxuriantly, and, strange to say, although overhanging the 
steamy water, it felt icy cold to the feet ; on reaching the 
top I found the silicious deposit had formed a level pave- 
ment, over which one or two inches of water, nearly boiling, 
flowed ; beyond was a small pool, close to the gulf, which 
occupied the centre, and sent forth volumes of vapour, com- 
pletely concealing its form from view ; in the middle of the 
platform was a rocky mound overhanging the chasm, where 
those who reached it obtained a nearer sight of the abyss, to 
facilitate which, a row of stepping stones had been laid for 
travellers to pass over ; as I was advancing along them, the 
dog, which had broken away from its master, ran past me, 
and finding the water scald his feet, he bounded on with a 
yell of pain, and, in an instant, plunged into the pool of hot 
water ; the poor animal made a vain attempt to escape, 
it rolled over, and in an instant was dead, and sank to the 
bottom ; its agonizing struggles quite unnerved me, it was 
one of the most distressing and painful sights I ever wit- 
nessed; I could render no aid, and knew if I had rescued 
the poor creature, its torments would only have been pro- 
longed ; after seeing it at the bottom of the pool which had 
thus suddenly become its grave, I retraced my steps ; after- 
wards, learned that two poor children met a similar end 
some few years back in a neighbouring puia ; the elder one, 
who was carrying an infant, went to take out a basket of 
potatoes which had been cooking in it ; when, standing on 
