I Chap. XIV. LUXURIANT COUNTRY. 347 
or " Corinthians," and who offered to guide us along a 
part of the way, and to carry a heavy basket of potatoes 
for food. For about eight miles from the edge of the 
cliff, fine pasture-land extends, mixed with occasional 
patches of fern. The whole tract from Pf^anganui 
hither, and as far west as I could see, appeared to be of 
precisely the same character as that over which I had 
passed between Wenuakura and TVaitotara in 1840 ; 
the level table-land being broken by the gullies of nu- 
merous streams which are partially or wholly filled 
with wood. Before entering the forest, I observed that 
a low wooded range of hills extends from the high- 
lands of JVanganui about iialf-way to the base of 
Mount Egmont ; and that we were directing our steps 
towards the centre of the flat district between Mount 
Egmont and the spot where this low range sinks gra- 
dually into the forest. 
After all the beautiful spots and districts which I 
had already seen in New Zealand, I was struck with 
the surpassing beauty and luxuriant productiveness of 
the country hereabouts, just after entering the wood, 
which is at first like an immense shrubbery with occa- 
sional large trees. The abundance of the second crops 
in the existing native gardens, the rankness and yet 
softness of the grass which had sprung up in the old 
deserted patches, surrounded with flowering shrubs 
amidst which countless flocks of singing-birds were 
chasing each other, all combined with the genial at- 
mosphere, although it was approaching to the middle 
of winter, to remind me touchingly of Shakspeare's 
sweet picture of the perfection of agriculture. Just 
such a country and climate is described by him, if 
worked by happy and industrious farmers : — 
" Earth's increase and foyson plenty, 
" Barns and garners never empty ; 
