DESCRIPTIVE 'NARRATIVE OE JOURlSfEY. 
I 
of the shore. Here I found on the pebbly shore, under some 
small scrub, and surrounded by tufts of grass, a deliciously cold 
mineral spring, of an agreeable alkaline, ferruginous taste, the 
position of which I have marked on the map. Unfortunately, rain 
set in again, so that it was not without great inconvenience that 
we could finish the task of this day. 
Next day we were detained in our tent by heavy rain, which 
gave us our first opportunity of learning that patience which we 
were afterwards compelled to exercise to such a trying extent 
during continued rainy winter weather. 
Notwithstanding we had plenty of provisions, having two pack- 
horses with us, the Maories of my party (which I may here men¬ 
tion consisted, besides myselt and Mr. Burnett, of three Europeans 
and tAvo Maories) were busy catching woodliens and eels, which 
last abound in the lloto-iti, and avc all began to prepare for our 
anticipated future mode of subsistence by eating heartily of them. 
During our delay in the tent we arranged everything for our ascent, 
on the next day, of the great mountain to the south of the lake! 
L selected this mountain (which I have named Mount llobcrt), 
because, not only did it seem to present fewer difficulties, but 
also because I felt satisfied that I should obtain from its summit 
extensive views towards the north and west, as well as over the 
southern portion of the inner lake. 
VVe started on the 17th of January at daylight, crossed the 
Koto-iti river and after scrambling for nearly a mile through a 
dense scrub of manuka and wild irishman, reached a spur running 
from the mountain in a westerly direction. This spur was covered 
with black birch forest, and although very steep, and in some 
places mossy we reached a platform, somewhat below the summit 
at eleven o clock. Here Ave found snow-grass, and other Alpine 
f ?mf C °f Ve T m u the surface of the ground. From this height, about 
1 GOO met, I obtained a magnificent view over the whole country 
between Separation 1 omt and the mouth of the Wairau river which 
lay spread like a map before us. The Wairau valley particularly 
attracted my attention, and appeared to lie in a direct l in e with what 
1 am now satisfied was the former outlet of the lake At this 
»p ot 1 tot noticed an Alpine flora, and that the tr“ for feyeS 
undred feet below the plateau had become divarfish Towards 
the east rose chain above chain of wild and rugged mountain 
peaks, whilst deep below lay the blue waters of the lake on' the 
shores of which glittered onr white tents, the only visible sign of 
human existence in the vast wilderness around i J Towardfthf 
west rose high rocky mountain chains, only broken through wh™ 
the Duller pierces them on its course Wd “h e sea® on Z 
outh our view was shut in by the rocky spurs oft huge moun! 
s diction i to air 6 i: > 
ridge. 1 Jt billowing the mountain 
