2lfl ADVENTURE IN NEW ZEALAND. Chai>. VHI. 
of the Manawatu, of the rivers which descend into 
Hawke's Bay, and of the Ruamahanga, which flows 
into the sea at TVairarapay or Palliser Bay. 
They saw the main branch of the Manawatu stretch- 
ing towards the North, along the N.E. base of the 
Ruahine range. The natives told them that it took 
its rise in the gorges between that and the Kai Man- 
ama range, whose northern extremity abuts on Lake 
T'aupo, and that a canoe might proceed for three weeks 
further up its course. 
Where they left, the Manawatu river was about 
90 miles, by its windings, from the sea. But its 
course is exceedingly tortuous ; so much so, that the 
natives have a legend that it was formed by an Atua, 
or " Evil Spirit," who was in the form of a large 
totara tree, and wormed himself along like an eel on 
his way from the east coast to Cook's Strait. His 
name was Okatia ; and he was said to have followed 
the course of a large tributary of the Manawatu, called 
Tirumea, which takes it^ source in the Puketoi moun- 
tains. The Puketoi range lies between the plain of 
the three rivers and the east coast, in a N. and S. 
direction, the tributaries of the Hauriri river in 
Hawke's Bay flowing round its northern base. 
The expedition now descended the ridge into the 
upper part of the Ruamahanga or J^airarapa plain^ 
and proceeded along its eastern side, crossing many 
tributaries of the river which flows down its centre, 
until they reached a village of the Ngatikahuhunu 
tribe. 
After being received very hospitably by these people, 
they proceeded to the southward, keeping about half- 
way between the base of the eastern spurs of the 
Tararura and the main river. 
Mr. Kettle described the country between the 
