Chap. IV. SACRED SAND. 121 
der the journey very tedious. Two of the streams, 
Oturere and TJ^ai Jiohonu, run in gullies 300 feet lower 
than the level of the path. 
After proceeding by a gradual ascent, which keeps 
pace with that of the TVaikato valley, for about 23 miles 
from Hoto Aeray the latter part of which distance was 
partly dry barren land, almost devoid of vegetation, 
and partly morass, we arrived on the edge of a sandy 
desert, exactly resembling those which line the coast 
between Kapiti and PVanganui. From this point 
Ruapehu bears S. 75° W. and Para te tai Tonga, N. 
50" W. This too is the highest point of the prairie 
path ; and here we caught the last glimpse of Lake 
Taupo, of which we had had a magnificent view 
nearly all the way from Potu. The path now de- 
scends, and verges to the S.W. across the sandy desert, 
which the natives call Onetapu, or " Sacred Sand." 
Here another path branches off to the head of the 
Manawatu, by way of Patea, a place near the source 
of the RangitiJci. This path crosses the valley of the 
upper TVaikato, and plunges into the broken country 
formed by the S.W. spurs of Kai Manawa. The na- 
tives describe it as a very tedious path, with many hills 
to ascend, and many streams to cross. They showed 
me an isolated table-land, in the direction of the path, 
which they affirmed to be inhabited by huge ngarara, 
or lizards. No one, they said, had ever dared to 
aseend to it. About three miles along the sandy 
desert brought us to the Waikato, half a mile 
from its source, which is in one corner of a rugged 
cavity in the S.E. side of Ruapehu. It is here quite 
an insignificant gutter. 
The desert now assumed a new aspect. Huge 
masses of rock, of the most diversified shapes and 
sizes, are piled on each other, and disposed over the 
