in New Zealand. 
285 
river, a specimen of Parsonsia , with axillary inflores¬ 
cence; this, however, may prove but a variety of P. 
heterophylla , as that plant continually varies in appear¬ 
ance, hardly two specimens being alike. Two species 
of JEpilobium , one a very fine plant —a Myriophyllum — 
and a linear-leaved floating plant (? Potamogeton ), I also 
obtained in this locality. Bivouacked for the night on 
a little open flat on the left bank of the river. The 
musquitoes, as might have been expected, were in in¬ 
terminable clouds and most annoying. Large quan¬ 
tities of an elegant species of Cypenis ( C. fulvus ? R. 
Brown) grew here, on either shore. 
Early the next morning we resumed our paddling 
down the river, which here begins to be under the in¬ 
fluence of the tides. The morning was squally and 
lowering, with every indication of a gale at hand. As 
we neared the sea-coast the river became very wide, 
being from two to three miles across, and containing 
several flat islands. The water here is shallow. At 
noon I had a prospect of the outer range of hills on the 
western coast, and a more dreary and sterile one can 
not easily be imagined. High and broken ferruginous- 
coloured sand-hills, destitute of the least vestige of 
vegetation. The wind setting in from the sea, against 
the ebbing tide, caused the water to be very rough, and 
called forth our united energies to keep our frail bark 
from swamping. At 2 p.m. we landed in safety at 
Maraetai, a station belonging to the Church Mission, 
where the llev. It. Maunsell resides, whose kind and 
hospitable reception quickly made us forget the little 
danger we had so lately been in. 
Maraetai, is on the immediate south bank of Waikato 
river, and only about a mile distant from the heads. 
