in New Zealand. 
293 
through the horrid interwoven mass of shrubs and 
prickly creepers, fern and cutting-grass, and prostrate 
trees, and swamps, and mud! Suffice to say, that, by 
dint of extreme exertion, I providentially gained the 
sandhills at Mangawai, on the east coast, by 10 a.m. 
on Monday, the 14th. Descending the hilly range 
near the sea coast, I found I had an extensive inlet to 
cross, which, as the tide was flowing fast, I lost no time 
in fording; so, plunging in, I waded to the opposite 
shore, the water being breast-high. I supposed my 
natives to be following pretty closely after me, and, 
having quite an appetite for my breakfast (having 
walked nearly six hours this morning), I commenced 
looking narrowly about for fresh water, continuing my 
journey towards the coast. Exhausted as I was, I dis¬ 
covered and secured, an hitherto unnoticed species of 
Leptospermum , a shrub, or small tree, growing plenti¬ 
fully on the high ridges of the sandhills, from 6-10 feet 
in height, bearing a villous capsule, apparently near 
L . attenuatim , Smith . A pretty compositaceous shrub 
(Cassinia leptophylla?) grew profusely here on the sand. 
Travelling on by the rocky coast, I detected in a little 
watercourse which trickled on the beach, a small pecu¬ 
liar plant, probably a species of Chara . It was now 
past noon, the day was very sultry, and I was tired, 
wet, and ravenously hungry in a desolate and wild 
place, when, for the first time, I realised a conviction 
which had been for the last hour gaining ground in my 
mind — that I was alone! I retraced my steps to the 
sandhills, and sought about, and bawled repeatedly, 
but all in vain; nought but the loud dash of the billow 
as it broke on the lonely strand, with now and then the 
melancholy wail of the Sandpiper burst on my ex- 
