180 ADVENTURE IN NEW ZEALAND. Chap. VII. 
expands to the eastward into a broad space, which is a 
lake when covered by the tide, and a mud flat at other 
times, intersected by the branching channels of a small 
river called the Maitai. An amphitheatre of about 
1000 acres, shelving from the southern shore of this 
lagoon to the base of abrupt mountains on the east 
and south-east, seems made for the site of a town ; and 
here Nelson is situated. It is only separated from the 
entrance of the haven by the ridge of hills which I 
have mentioned ; and a path over its summit forms a 
short cut between the haven and the town. Facing to 
the north, it enjoys a view over the wide part of the 
haven and the Boulder Bank into the expanse of Blind 
Bay; and the fringe of wood on the banks of the 
Maitai leads the eye to the forest gullies and towering 
crags in the direction of the Ohiere, or Pelorus river. 
The little village at the haven was all life and 
gaiety. Two large wooden stores and a house for 
immigrants, belonging to the Company, were the i 
centre of business, as labourers came for their rations, J 
or rolled casks and bales into the store. The Lord j 
Auckland was discharging immigrants on the beach ; 
the two Deal boats of the Company were being j 
launched or hauled up by their weather-beaten crews, i 
or making trips to the shipping ; and knots of whalers, 
who had come on a cruise to the new settlement, were 
loitering about on the scattered cannon, ploughs, and 
cart-wheels. Among these beach-combing wanderers, 
I recognised many old acquaintances. Some of these 
eccentric characters seemed curiously divided between 
contempt for the inexperience of the "jimmy-grants," 
as they called the emigrants, and surprise at the general 
industry and bustle prevailing. The cloudless weather, 
hotter than 1 had yet felt it in New Zealand, and the 
vivacity of the scene, made one think that races or a 
