30 
DESCRIPTIVE NARRATIVE OE JOURNEY. 
The weather was at last settled, and the river fell considerably, 
so that we again thought of resuming our exploration. Alter 
having well considered my future proceedings, I found that we 
should be able to get on more rapidly by ascending the river in a 
canoe as far as the junction of the Mawhera-iti, and from thence, 
again shouldering our packs, to proceed straight across the 
country to the Upper Grey, where it enters the plains. By this 
means I should be enabled to examine more minutely the extent 
and nature of the level land in that district. At the same time I 
fixed upon a high mountain in the range bounding the district, 
which I determined to ascend, for purposes of observation. On 
my return from this expedition, I intended to examine the coun¬ 
try through which the Otututu flows, then striking across from 
this river to the Mawhera-iti, and over the grass plains, to pass 
the saddle between that river and the Inangahua, a tributary ot 
the Buller, and from thence, weather permitting, to the junction 
of both rivers. 
It will be seen in the sequel that I succeeded in carrying out 
the greater part of my programme, notwithstanding the most 
horrid weather, and the almost continued freshes and inundations 
by which we were impeded. If, therefore, after having seen the 
Grey district under such unfavourable aspects, it still leaves an 
agreeable impression upon my mind, there can be little doubt 
that it is a really splendid country. 
The storekeeper, who had arrived in the vessel which left pro¬ 
visions for us at the Buller, having nothing to detain him here, I 
sent him back, accompanied by a Maori guide, to the Buller, 
there to await our arrival. Mr. Mackay, also, who was going 
down the coast to purchase land from the natives, started at the 
same time that we did, and with him the whole native population 
of the district. 
Having secured the services of another Maori, who, as a 
stranger, had nothing to do with the land question, and having 
hired a canoe from the chief Tarapuhi, we started on the 27th of 
March to pole up the river. There are several rapids to ascend, 
to pass which required all the strength and skill of the men, and 
occupied a considerable time ; so that by the evening we had ’only 
proceeded a few miles, which, on our return durum a heavy fresh 
we passed over in about half an hour. ° J ' ’ 
The next day brought rain again, but I was anxious to get on 
and as we had to wade often breast high to drag the canoe up the 
stream, it did not matter much whether it was fine or not In a 
few hours we arrived at the gorge in which the carboniferous 
strata are visible; here the river being too deep for our poles, we 
had to push the canoe forward by holding against the sides of the 
clxfts. We stopped for dinner at the slip in the gorge where the 
coals are exposed, and I cursorily examined them f but, beum 
unable to devote much time to it, I could not form any fixed 
