DESCRIPTIVE NARRATIVE OE JOURNEY. 
65 
so far that we were again able to start, and fortunately succeeded 
in getting safely round, of course drenched to the skin, as the 
water several times washed over our heads. 
. ^ ie flowing stopped us at three o’clock, and we only found 
just room enough between the rocks, at the side of a small 
streamlet, to pitch our tent. The wind blowing very strong, it 
was really magnificent to see the majestic waves dashing with fury 
against the high rocks on both sides of our camping ground, 
covering everything around with foam and froth. 
AV e resumed our journey the next morning, the nature of the 
coast being still the same, but becoming wilder and wilder as we 
advanced. All along the edge of the 'sea stood rugged masses of 
rock, often formed into gigantic triumphal arches, as if nature had 
erected them to glorify its own power. A/Ve passed several streams 
of different sizes, the great abundance of fresh water being every¬ 
where the same. In order to have good stations, we sometimes 
climbed to the tops of the furthest rocks in the sea, where we 
doubly enjoyed the wild scene around us. During the first part 
of this day’s journey, we passed over several cliffs of various 
heights and degrees of steepness, amongst which was one, where, 
owing to an overhanging rock, we had great difficulty in getting 
our giddy companion over. Air. Thomas Brunner, the first in¬ 
trepid explorer of this country, in his journal describes this cliff 
in the following graphic manner : — 
“ The Taupiri-kaka is a steep cliff, against which the waves 
break on the perpendicular face of the rock, so as completely to 
prevent it being passed below, while in-shore the mountain rises 
both steep and high, and presents also an impassable barrier. 
About eighty feet above the sea, at a part where the point juts 
from the mountain, was a place which seemed as if it might afford 
a passage, and to this we climbed by a difficult rocky path through 
karaka bushes, and over and amongst large fragments of granite ; 
but on the other side the descent appeared appalling, and we cer¬ 
tainly for a time deemed it impracticable. At length, finding the 
remains of a rotten rope made by the natives, we agreed that 
what had been done once could be done again, and upon looking 
down we at length perceived a ledge and some holes in the face 
of the rock, which might afford foothold. AVe, therefore, took 
courage, and descended ; but we found the descent most hazardous 
in passing round an overhanging rock, where it was necessary to 
lean backwards in order to get from one ledge to the other. 
After reading this description, it will be easily understood that 
we had greater difficulties to overcome, as we generally had to go 
twice over the same ground on these precipices, on account of the 
giddiness of one of the men. # 
* Mr. Brunner believes the name Taupiri-kaka is applied by the natives only 
to one rock ; but they assured me that this name is given by them to the whole 
of the rugged and dreaded district between laura-te-weka and hauranga point* 
