in New Zealand. 
243 
obliged to be carried, not daring to trust myself on 
that perilous and slippery path, which reminded me of 
Al araf y the bridge to the Mahometan Elysium. As it 
was, I very nearly fell, through nervous excitation, into 
the depth below. In this neighbourhood I detected 
another small Lomaria (Z. dejlexa , n. W. C .), toge¬ 
ther with a small Compositaceous plant, for which I 
had been some time looking out, having before seen its 
foliage. Passing through a deep swamp, I hastily 
snatched specimens of several plants, which appeared 
to be different species from those I had hitherto ob¬ 
tained, for examination. About sun-set we arrived at 
the banks of the river Wangaroa (one of the principal 
branches of the river Wairoa, which disembogues into 
Hawke s Bay); here I obtained two canoes from the 
natives, and paddled down the river about 2J miles to 
Te Reinga, the principal village of this district. This 
river winds round the enormous hill, Wakapunake, at 
the base of which the village is situated. I had often 
heard from time to time from the natives, of this place, 
and of the abyss-like cataract in its immediate vicinity, 
and had long cherished a hope of one day visiting it. 
Tired as I now was, I wished for morning that I might 
realize my desire, and gain a few more additions to the 
New Zealand Flora. The roar of the waters during the 
stillness of the night, had much that was soothing as 
well as solemn in the sound. Morning broke, and, 
prayers and breakfast over, I entered into a little canoe 
and paddled about 200 yards to the bed of rock, which, 
crossing the river, dams up the water and causes the 
fall. This cataract, from its situation, is exceedingly 
romantic; the most so, I think, of any fall I have yet 
seen in New Zealand. The bed of rock, or rather de- 
