DESCRIPTIVE NARRATIVE OE JOURNEY. 
17 
whilst in the background lay the towering peaks of Mount Owen. 
The ground on which we camped being mossy, much care was 
necessary to prevent the moss from taking fire; but, in spite of 
all our precautions, it spread under ground, and we were com¬ 
pelled to shift our camp during the night. The fine weather, 
which had so long favoured us, now began to change; heavy rain 
set in, and, fearing that we might be delayed at the Tutaki, unless 
we crossed it at once, we started very early, and were soon wet 
to the skin. 
It was fortunate that we had not delayed, for on reaching the 
river about two o’clock, the water rose to our hips, and flowed so 
rapidly as well nigh to wash us off our feet. In two hours after¬ 
wards the river had risen three feet more, so that it would have 
been impossible then to cross. 
Here we camped, and for three days had continual heavy rain. 
It was a scene of wild beauty. The two rivers, whose waters 
united close to our camp, rose by degrees higher and higher, 
dashing between the high rocky water-worn cliffs, which here 
narrow the main river to about thirty feet, the water rising fifteen 
feet in a very short time. During the time we were delayed here 
we washed for gold in the neighbourhood of our camp, and suc¬ 
ceeded in finding many very pretty specimens. We now placed 
ourselves on rations, which however w r as not agreeable to some 
of my party. 
The weather changed on the 21st of February, and we con¬ 
tinued our journey towards the Mataki-taki plains, over a flat and 
very high terrace, which gradually became‘lower as we advanced; 
and, after travelling for three miles through the bush, we found 
that it was not much above the level of the river. Here Mr. 
Mackay’s track led to the river banks, and all signs of a track 
became lost in the shingle. It was evident that he had crossed 
here, and followed the sandy pebbly beach on the other side. 
The river being.still high, I tried to cross ; but having soon found 
myself breast high in the rapid water, and finding that I should 
be washed off my feet if I attempted to proceed, I was obliged to 
return. This was very annoying. Stopped by the river, and not 
knowing how long it would take before we could cross, we had to 
camp, and await the lowering of the waters. 
The views over the Mataki-taki plains towards the north, east, 
and west were really charming, extending as they did over a large 
level country, in most part covered with dense torest, above which 
appeared high mountain peaks. Towards the west rose a con¬ 
tinuous rocky chain, which 1 named after Sir Charles Lyell, with 
its magnificent needles and points disappearing behind a conical 
granitic mountain, lying m the centre ot the plain, and descend¬ 
ing abruptly to the Buffer, whilst at its eastern base flowed the 
Matiri, and'to the north-east the peaks of Mount Murchison ap¬ 
peared over the low wooded mountains m front of it. 
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