226 ADVENTURE IN NEW ZEALAND. Chap. IX. 
Resting occasionally to eat, we reached Otaki the 
same day, having walked about 24 miles from our last 
encampment. 
We stopped two days there, and then proceeded to 
Ohau. About six miles up the fertile valley of this 
river, passing through rich cultivations all the way, 
we reached the residence of the chief in his favourite 
garden. I shall pass over the usual greetings, the 
pleasing hospitality, and the delightful quiet of two or 
three days, during which I became much attached to 
the family of this chief. His eldest son, especially, a 
handsome active lad of about 13, was of a very en- 
gaging disposition ; and showed an eager desire to 
obtain the friendship and acquire the ways of the 
White man. Although so young, he seemed to foresee 
the duties which would devolve upon him when he 
should succeed to the chieftainship ; and he proved by 
every action towards me, and every idea which he 
expressed, how delighted he should be if he might 
be enabled by early instruction to assimilate his 
thoughts, his objects, and his ambition, to those of 
the civilized race. I shall hereafter have to relate a 
striking proof of this feeling. 
Bidding adieu to this new circle of acquaintances, I 
proceeded with a lad whom E Ahu had directed to 
carry my baggage as far as Rangitikei. We crossed a 
pretty lake close to the north of E Ahus settlement, 
called Papal Tonga, or " Beautiful South," and walked 
over about four miles of rich level forest country, 
to the shore of another lake, called Horowenua, or 
" Landslip." After I had fired one or two shots, a 
canoe came to us from a village at the further end, 
and bore us to the residence of TVatanui, on the stream 
which drains the waters of the lake to the coast. 
I slept here one night> and then proceeded, much 
