1 66 
VOYAGE TO THE 
tiful clear river of fresh water comes, pouring its streams into 
the creek *; and, a few yards higher up, there is another 
cascade of still greater beauty. Immense masses of lava lie 
in picturesque confusion on the banks, between which gay 
shrubs and flowers have rooted, and partially conceal them. 
At these falls we were often amused by looking on, while 
the natives enjoyed themselves in the water. Some of their 
exercises, indeed, were almost fearful: they would strip 
even their maro, and then plunge into the river above the 
first fall, and allow themselves to be carried down into the 
deep pool below T , in which they would disappear, and then 
rise again at some distance and draw breath to be ready for 
the second fall, down which they would go, and then return 
to the upper rocks to renew their sport; nay, some of them 
would ascend the cliffs above, a height of thirty or forty feet, 
and leap from thence into the w r ater, seemingly enjoying 
our terror at their daring diversion ; but they are like the 
amphibious animals, accustomed to the water from infancy, 
and w-hether rolling about in the surf on their float-boards, 
or dashing down the cascades along with the waters, seem 
equally at home. 
As Lord Byron had determined to refit here, Kahu- 
* This river is the Wairuku ; that is, the forceful, or destructive, or rushing 
water. 
