DESCETPTIYE YAPP ATT YE OF JOTTEYEY. 
15 
But I was not a little gratified on observing that my ex¬ 
pectations of finding an opening towards the south through the 
island, were realized as far as I could see. Along the eastern side 
of this opening the glorious chain of the Spencer mountains again 
appeared, prominent among which Mount Franklin showed his 
snow-clad sides. Unfortunately, and unexpectedly, a rise in 
Mount Murchison towards the south-east prevented my seeing in 
the direction of Lake Botoroa, so that I determined at once 
to ascend the second peak of this mountain. We had to 
descend for 500 feet, and to climb up the second peak, which here 
presented very slippery sides, whilst the summit consisted of a 
very narrow ridge, which fell abruptly on both sides. After 
reaching the top of the second peak, we were again disappointed, 
for we found before us a still higher one. Between the second 
and third, the sides of the mountain fell almost perpendicularly, 
and were covered with smooth snow-grass, presenting nothing 
which we could take hold of to assist us in our descent, whilst 
the saddle over which we had to pass was scarcely broad enough 
for our footing, and sloped almost perpendicularly on both sides 
for 1,500 feet. It was not without the greatest care that we 
managed to descend, and again climb up to the third and highest 
ridge; hut when at last we had arrived there, we were gratified 
with a noble view. The Lake Botoroa, its outlet, the rivers 
which supply it, and the Tutaki and its tributaries, lay before us 
as on a map. The large opening towards the south was visible, 
interrupted here and there by hills presenting the appearance of 
regular cones, which gave to this view a variety most difficult to 
describe. 
It was six o’clock before I had finished my observations, so it 
being impossible to reach our camp before dark by the way 
we had come (as we should have to climb over the two peaks 
between us and it), we determined on descending by the first 
favourable spur, hoping that by following it till sunset, we should 
be able to descend into the gorge below, and thus camp near some 
water. It is needless to say that we hurried down through what, 
fortunately, proved to be not very close vegetation, on the back of 
the spur, and had made some considerable distance, when, as night 
was fast approaching, we were obliged to descend a very steep side 
of the spur towards the water. It was quite dark when we 
reached it, and prepared to camp, having for our supper only a 
drink of deliciously fresh water. Bemembering that I had a candle 
in my box, I suggested that, as it was a fine calm night it should 
be lighted, and that we should follow the stream, and thus perhaps 
reach the Buller. This we did, but not without many falls and 
sundry other misadventures. When we did reach the Buller it 
was half past nine o’clock, and it was full time, for our candle had 
burned so low that it had become almost impossible to hold it 
between our fingers. We then continued our course down the 
