264 ADVENTURE IN NEW ZEALAND. Chap. VUI. 
tops of wooded mountains confining the sight in all 
directions. 
In dropping down the stream the next day, I sounded 
as we went, and found at least six feet at low-water up 
to a slight rapid about half a mile below Te-kau-aror 
pawa. In the evening, we took a hasty meal at Puti- 
kiwaranui, and were then taken by Turoa in his 
canoe to fVahipuna. On the way he repeatedly urged 
me to come back and pay for " my place," as he called 
it. The moon lighted us over the sand-hills, and after 
two hours' sharp walking we arrived at the TVangaihu 
river. One of the boys carried me across a ford about 
half a mile above the mouth on his shoulders, with 
much exertion, from the uncertain nature of the sandy 
bed. On the opposite side we found temporary fences 
of driftwood and reeds built round the bivouac of 
each separate canoe's crew. I was soon asleep in the 
tent, in a corner of that prepared for E Kuru ^vA 
myself 
The sun had not yet risen when the whole en- 
campment was astir. The canoes crept out of the 
narrow outlet of the river almost in silence, their 
crews being but half awake. A perfect calm prevailed, 
and a light ripple only fell on the beach. We had all 
got out to sea, when the sun rose over the land into 
an unclouded sky, and chattering and singing soon 
began to accompany the lively strokes of the paddle 
as the natives warmed to their work. The fleet con- 
sisted of thirty-three good-sized canoes, bearing to- 
gether about 300 natives and 200 hogs. I understood 
that the hogs, as well as some of the canoes, were 
presents from JVanganui natives to some of the Kapiti 
chiefs. One fine canoe in particular was being taken 
to Rangihiroa, Hikos uncle. The canoes kept pretty 
close together to-day, as no wind tried their different 
