Chap. VIIL TEDIOUS TRAVELLING. 25,3 
tion. I could not learn whether they had been 
growing there, or had been brought down by freshets. 
As, however, they were without exception in an upright 
position, and at about the distance from each other at 
which trees usually grow, I concluded thjit the river 
had at some distant period changed its course, and 
flowed through a totara grove. I even conjectured 
that the river might have taken its name from this cir- 
cumstance. 
The wind having shifted this morning, the greater 
part of my escort returned from hence to TVanganuiy 
as they expected the canoes to start. I proceeded with 
Konatu, Puke, Hina, and four other boys, over the 
sand-hills on to the beach. About two miles north of 
the river's mouth we again came to cliffs, and were 
obliged by the high tide to travel along their summit. 
This was very tedious work, up and down sand-hum- 
mocks and through heavy hot sand for about ten 
miles. I was partly consoled, however, by splendid 
views of Tonga Riro and Mount Egmont, the day 
being clear and perfectly unclouded. The latter 
mountain became more and more beautiful as we 
lessened our distance from it. Descending to the 
beach as the tide ebbed, we passed along the foot of 
the cliffs, which diminished in height for about two 
miles, and then gave way to low sand-hummocks, like 
those south of TVanganui. Many bustling streams 
rushed through gullies to the beach. Turning a 
point in the sandy beach, we discovered a bay bounded 
on the north by two or three high bluffs, and pro- 
ceeded for about a mile to the mouth of a small river 
flowing out of its bight. Two villages, built on either 
side of the river, poured out their inhabitants upon 
the beach to greet us. One tall fellow lifted me on 
his shoulders, and carried me across the mouth of the 
