I 
DESCRIPTIVE NARRATIVE OF JOURNEY, 
25 
terrace, where it fell perpendicularly towards the river, I found a 
small cavern, excavated by the hand of man, in the clay, the roof of 
which still bore marks of the implement with which it was 
hollowed out, but I did not detect any other sign of human 
presence. This had probably been formed by some f ugitive Maori 
slave, in years gone by. Every turn of the river now opened to 
our admiring eyes some fresh and beautiful Alpine scenery, and 
we also had ample opportunities for trying our remaining strength 
in crossing and recrossing it. I think it is really a miracle that 
we were not washed down by the large body of water which 
dashed so rapidly against us. On the following day we arrived at 
a spot where another river enters the Grey from Mount Hoch- 
stetter, so named by Mr. Mackay. There the Grey makes a 
sharp turn from the S/W. to N.'N.W., offering a new series 
of splendid views. During this day we were very fortunate, 
getting an eel and three wekas, which restored our strength a little. 
It was only after a dreary march of three days, partly over grassy 
plains, partly through dense bush, and after climbing up and down 
steep terraces, that on the evening of the 14th of March, we 
arrived at the Alexander stream, from which, according to the 
information from Mr. Mackay, I could judge how long it would 
take me to arrive at the junction of the Mawhera-iti with the 
Pohaturoha, from which point the river is called by the natives 
the Mawhera, or Grey. 
. It was high time that we should have some prospect of speedily 
obtaining better rations, for during the last three weeks we had 
been ^without bacon, salt, and sugar, having nothing left but tea, 
! flour, and oatmeal, and though, eleven days previously, I had 
calculated that our provisions would then last but ten days, I had 
so managed that we had still left sufficient for eight scanty meals. 
The consequence was that we all felt very weak, but, never¬ 
theless, we could have made better headway had not two 
of my party broken down. One of them, by nature thin, had 
become a mere skeleton, and two days before our arrival at 
the Alexander, whilst ascending a steep hill, fell, completely 
exhausted by hunger, exertion, and cold, it having rained 
( during the whole day, and we having had to cross and 
recross the rapid river at least ten times, with the water often 
breast high. Of course I camped at once, and did all in my power 
to make him comfortable, each of us sparing from our scanty 
ration something to augment his meal. I must confess that I 
passed an anxious night, as the consequence of being compelled to 
stay here would have been of the gravest nature, and would 
probably have endangered the lives of the whole party. Finding 
next morning that he was better, we again contributed towards 
his ration, and dividing his load between us, started on our journey. 
At the end of two days he resumed his load, having regained 
sufficient strength to keep well up with the party. On the 
