22 
DESCEIPTIVE NAEEATIVE OF JOUENEY. 
south-eastern end a semicircle round a large isolated granitic 
mountain, which I named Mount Mueller, after the eminent 
botanist, Dr. Ferdinand Mueller, director of the botanical gardens 
at Victoria, who is now engaged in illustrating the botany of the 
southern hemisphere. The chain then turns slightly to the 
westward, in the direction of the Kopi-o-kai Tangata, or Cannibal’s 
Gorge, after which it curves to the S.S.W. On the western side, 
a wild scene, exhibiting the boldest forms of mountain peaks, was 
visible, showing what great revolutions had here occurred in the 
earth’s crust. After having also examined the mountain chain 
towards the west, we started again at noon, and, notwithstanding 
the weather was showery, enjoyed the fine scenery around us. 
The easy travelling over these grassy plains was also a pleasing 
change, and our walk was further enlivened by large quantities of 
quail, which, at every step, rose at our feet. 
I here found it necessary again to inspect our provisions, which 
appeared to diminish very rapidly, and I found that they would 
only last us ten days, by confining ourselves to a smail pot of 
lillipe (or boiled flour) twice a day, with a hoped-for addition of 
wekas or eels. Our gun, unfortunately, was useless, having been 
entirely spoiled by the wet in frequently crossing the rivers, 
without our having any means of protecting it from the water! 
Eain fell the next evening, and continued the whole of the 
succeeding day, but nevertheless we started, and camped near the 
high granitic mountain at the south-eastern end of the plain 
The following morning (the 6th of March) being clear, I 
observed that the granitic mountain to our east was bare tonned 
and as I was anxious to obtain a better idea of the mountain 
system on that side I determined on ascending it, and started at 
seven o clock with Mr. Burnett and the native for that purpose 
Our provisions consisted of a pannikin of biscuit dust, and one 
roasted weka. After having worked our way for two miles 
through a dense growth of flax, wild irishman, &c., which we 
found extremely fatiguing, we reached the bottom of the terrace 
about a mile from the foot of the mountain, and commenced our 
ascent. It however became cloudy and began to rain and I soon 
saw that it would be useless then to attempt the ascent As we 
could not afford to wait for fine weather, I was compelled to return 
to camp, much to my regret. For several days we had the SJ Z 
morning (March 7), and leaving the Maruia wh!^ f °, lo , wm 2 
eastward towards the Cannibal’s Gorge we continued ** iwp S 
large opening towards the south, 
V fl f x and papers placed m the clefts of sticks. 7 After a 
a^streang which Mr J Mackay^^ 01 ^ 
Ruhu, and which we followed through fU h , Pp on > called the 
™ tu ™ * «*» ^ei: o ;s e pS 
