I 
EXPLANATION OF THE MATS. 
67 
meats of a brave people which were annihilated in the bloody, 
cannibal wars of Hongi, the “ Napoleon of New Zealand,” in 
the years 1820 ,to 1830, and whose deeds live only in song and 
tradition. 
MAP IY. 
KOTO-MAH AKA (OK THE WAKM LAKE) AKI) I’S HOT SPKIKHS. 
1 he Lake District, so called on account of its numerous lakes, 
is situated about two days’ journey from the Bay of Plenty. 
It is almost exclusively inhabited by the natives, who have 
selected the beautiful and fertile banks of Rotorua and Tarawera 
as their settlements. The Mission Station at Temu (the Rev. 
Mr. Spencer’s residence) is at present the only European habi¬ 
tation, and is the resort of many travellers and naturalists, 
who visit the neighbourhood during the summer months. The 
principal point of attraction of this region is Roto-mahana, or 
the Hot Lake, with its wonders, a visit to which well repays 
the fatigues of a few days’ travelling through New Zealand 
rush and swamps. # 
It is one ol the smallest lakes of the district, scarcely 
' t/ 
exceeding in length three-quarters of a mile from north to 
south, and in width a quarter of a mile. I hardly believe that 
this small, dull-green lake, with its swampy borders, and the 
surrounding barren and miserable-looking hills, which are 
destitute of trees, and only covered with fern, would come up 
to the expectation of the traveller, who has heard so much of 
its wonders. That which makes it the most remarkable of all 
the lakes of New Zealand, nay even the most remarkable of all 
spots of the earth, lies mostly hidden from the view of the 
new arrival—except the immense clouds of steam which rise 
everywhere—which leads to the supposition that in reality 
nothing is to be seen. 
* The journey from Auckland is generally made in from one to two 
days by sea to Tauranga with a favourable wind. From Tauranga one 
can arrive in two days at Tarawera and Roto-mahana Lake, either direct 
or by Maketu—both roads equally bad. The return can be made over 
the Patetere plateau to the Waikato River, and from this by canoe to 
Mangatawhiri, whence the Great South Road leads to Auckland. 
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