84 
VIL. 
PETANE SWAMP—THE BANDED RAIL. 
THe Esk River in Hawke’s Bay possesses two 
mouths—the normal exit by way of the Petane 
lagoon or inner harbour, the flood escape directly 
through the beach. By far the larger deposit of 
silt is carried directly out to sea, but often, es- 
pecially during rainstorms from the east, hours 
elapse before the weight of accumulated water is 
sufficient to burst through the shingle and sand 
barrier. Until that occurs much flood water is 
carried into the upper end of the Petane lagoon, 
and deposited over several hundred acres of 
marsh and mud. 
In certain lights the colouring of these swamps 
is gorgeous, immense ruby carpets of azolla crim- 
son the surface, these carpets after showers bear- 
ing myriads of crystal-clear water diamonds. 
Vast beds of yellow cotula make a brave show. 
Stiff patches of ferruginous rush extend here and 
there over great areas. On the drier lands grow 
