348 ADVENTURE IN NEW ZEALAND. Chaf. XIV. 
" Vines with clust'ring branches growing ; ^ 
" Plants with goodly burden bowing ; 
" Spring come to you at the farthest 
*' In the very end of harvest ! 
" Scarcity and want shall shun you, 
*' Ceres' blessing so is on you !" 
A long trudge through the forest, of which the trees 
increased in size as we advanced, presented but little 
variety till we emerged on the picturesque broken 
country which stretches northwards from Mount 
Egmont at a distance of 10 or 12 miles from the 
coast. We had slept two nights in the bush, and the 
third we reached a hut in a small cultivation on the 
western edge of the forest. The journey had proved 
very tedious, from the extraordinary number of gullies 
and streams which we had to cross. Among these 
were the Patea and several of its tributaries, which 
take their rise in the side of Mount Egmont. After 
passing them, we came to those which join together to 
swell the four or five small rivers that flow out on the 
western coast between the Sugar-loaf Islands and the 
ff^aitera. 
We had passed about half-way the skeletons of two 
horses. These had belonged to Mr. Cooke and his 
stockman. On his journey with the herd of cattle, he 
had expected to find this road open. On being dis- 
appointed, he left his horse, and was guided by the na- 
tives through the forest along the line which the road 
was to take. His cattle and sheep were in the meanwhile 
feeding and resting in the rich pastures which I have 
described. He directed his stockman to take the horses 
back and drive the cattle round the coast ; but the 
stockman left his horse too, also came through the 
forest, and remained drinking a week at New Plymouth. 
When he got back, both horses were dead of starvation. 
It is a curious fact, however, that cattle will not only 
