TIIE GEOLOGY OF AUCKLAND. 
34 
was a fountain, seemingly of molten sulphur, in active play, 
which shot a column of wide-spreading green and gold into the 
scorching atmosphere. The beauty of this fountain was sur¬ 
passing, and we were under the impression, that from its 
energy, the volcano was more than commonly active in its 
workings. We were very circumspect in our approaches, as 
tiie surface in places was soft and yielding, and we knew not to 
what brimstone depths an unwary step might sink us. Our 
difficulty in walking, therefore, arose less from the heat, though 
that in places was great, than from the apprehension of sinking 
too far in the soft crusiaceous surface, from which diminutive 
spouts of vapour would spit forth as if to resent our intrusion. 
Whenever we thought the ground at all doubtful, we sounded 
our way by hurling large stones to see what impression they would 
make, and we adventured or avoided proceeding accordingly. 
Time, to oui great regret, would not admit of a minute 
exploration, but all the grand features of the island had passed 
under view. We looked in vain for the gorgeous meadow 
described by Capt. Drury j but we had only to enlarge any of the 
numbaless miniature vapour holes to obtain pure crystallised 
sulphur hot from the baker;/, and at the same time to convert these 
holes into more active vapour jets. The streams that issued in 
various directions were of boiling heat, limpid and tasteless ; but, 
though sulphur was everywhere strewn around, it did not appear 
to be in quantities sufficient for shipment. After an hour’s 
stop, we returned to our ship greatly delighted with the visit, 
and much indebted to our obliging captain for having put it in 
our power to enjoy it.” 
Mr. Heaphy has kindly furnished me with a map and views 
of this singularly interesting island. 
If we take a wider view of the geological features and the 
physical outline of these just described high plains and plateaus 
consisting of regular layers of tracliytic rocks, breccia, and tuff; 
we shall find that the steep cones of Ruapahu and Tongariro 
lisc from the centre of a vast tuff cone of extremelv gradual 
inclination, the basis of which occupies the whole country from 
shore to shore—from East to West—having a diameter of 100 
sea miles, and forming the largest cone of tuffs, or in other words, 
the largest crater of elevation, in the whole world. 
