CfiAP. IV. HIGH TABLE PLAINS. dS 
dell in which the stream flows. This dell, with its 
various branches, presents a very picturesque appear- 
ance, from the steepness and height of its banks, which 
are covered almost wholly with the towai. This tree has 
very small dark leaves. It is used for ship-building, 
and is called by Englishmen the " black birch." It 
generally grows in elevated situations. Five miles 
more along a forest, consisting of nothing but towai, 
brought us to a level grass plain, which continues at the 
same height as the table forest-land. The plain seemed 
about four miles in width, and was bounded on either 
side by wooded hills, whose summits were hidden by 
thick masses of clouds. This kind of prairie is called 
mania by the natives. It is covered with a poor tufty 
grass of very delicate blade, though here and there are 
excellent patches of other grasses well fitted for pasture. 
At twilight we prepared to encamp at the edge of a 
point of wood which projected like a promontory from 
the eastern edge of the prairie. We had some difficulty 
in lighting a fire, as it had poured incessantly the whole 
day ; and we were obliged to fare on short commons, 
and sit wrapped in our blankets by the fire until the 
warmth made us sleepy enough to tuni in, notwith- 
standing the wet, which had completely soaked through 
tent, blankets, and everything else. 
Two young weka, or wood-hens, about as large as 
sparrows, which my dog pulled out of their nest in a 
burrow under a fallen tree, were esteemed a valuable 
addition to our scanty supper. 
The rain had continued all night, and gave no signs 
of mercy in the morning ; but as one wio and twelve 
potatoes were our whole stock of provisions, and we 
were still far from our journey's end, delay was out of 
the question. At the first dawn of day we pulled on 
our wet clothes, and walked eight miles along the 
