MOUNA HUARAUAI. 69 
low land along the coast; the thick woods that 
skirt its base, and the numerous feathered tribes 
inhabiting them—rendered it an interesting object, 
and induced the travellers to commence its ascent. 
About eight o’clock in the morning of the ninth, 
they left Kairua, accompanied by three men, 
whom they had engaged to conduct them to the 
summit. Having travelled about twelve miles in 
a northerly direction, they arrived at the last 
house on the western side of the mountain. Here 
their guides wished to remain for the night; and, 
on being urged to proceed, as it was not more 
than three o’clock in the afternoon, declared they 
did not know the way, and had never been, be¬ 
yond the spot where they then were. Notwith¬ 
standing this disappointment, it was determined 
to proceed. Leaving the path, the party began to 
ascend in a south-east direction, and travelled about 
six miles over a rough and difficult road, some¬ 
times across streams of hard lava, full of fissures 
and chasms, at other times through thick and 
closely interwoven brushwood and fern. 
Arriving at a convenient place, and finding 
themselves fatigued, drenched also with the 
showers, and the wet grass through which they 
had walked, they proposed to pitch their tent for 
the night. A temporary hut was erected with 
branches of the neighbouring trees, and covered 
with the leaves of the tall ferns that grew around 
them. At one end of it they lighted a large fire, 
and, after the rains had abated, dried their 
clothes, partook of the refreshments they had 
brought with them, and, having commended them¬ 
selves to the kind protection of their heavenly 
Guardian, spread fern leaves and grass upon the 
lava, and lay down to repose. The thermometer, 
