246 
A VISIT TO KOTO-MAHAN A. 
extraordinary appearance. On the lower side it has an outlet 
into the Tarawera Lake. There are several islands in it, some 
merely a few connected tufts of grass, hut abounding in water 
fowl, ducks, pukeko (porphyrio) and sea birds, which appear to 
delia’ht in the warmth of their abode. Two of these islands 
o 
present a singular appearance, being composed of misshapen 
rocks and ochreous hills, filled with boiling cauldrons and 
jets of vapour, intermingled with manuka trees and native huts, 
on reaching which, the stranger scarcely knows where to set his 
foot, lest he should tread on unsafe ground, the whole surface 
being very hot, and overspread with fragments of former puia. 
When we came to the border of the lake, two canoes put 
off' from one of the islands, to convey us over. Being desirous 
of ascertaining the temperature of the water, I kept my hand 
in it whilst crossing, and found that it varied from 90 to 120 
degrees Fahrenheit; the difference of heat in places may be 
attributed to the innumerable boiling springs at the bottom of 
the lake, the existence of which was detected on the surface, 
by their bubbling up and noise. The lake appears to be of 
great depth—the water had no peculiar flavour. 
On reaching the island, we were received by the natives with 
a loud welcome ; and after a short stay, we went, during the 
culinary operations of our hosts, to examine one of the puia, 
or hot springs, in the vicinity, and a more remarkable place 
I never saw. It had the appearance of an immense flight of 
white marble stairs, each step being from one to three feet in 
height, of a silicious stone, formed by the deposit of the waters; 
in some places of a beautiful pale pink color, over which about 
two inches of warm water fell. I ascended this magnificent 
and unequalled staircase, some parts of which were so slippery, 
that I had some difficulty in keeping my footing. One of the 
steps presented merely a rim externally, and formed a basin, 
about four feet in depth, of beautifully clear water, having 
a greenish hue, like that of the lake over which we had passed. 
Neither I nor my companion could resist the tempting luxury 
of the bath which was before us. We found the temperature 
to be nearly 90°, although it varied in each of the three com¬ 
partments into which the bath was divided. Afterwards, I 
