KOTIWHENU 115 
ings, were now in addition during summer blocked 
with the carcases of Petrels in every stage of 
decay—a gruesome stream indeed. There were 
two water-holes near our whare, both unfit for 
use in summer during the height of the breeding 
season. Their stagnant water was so full of 
matter in suspension that my plates, even after 
rinsing in such rain-water as was available, had, 
on arrival at Tutira, to be rewashed. This want 
of sufficient water was, however, but a minor ill; 
it was a delightful variation from the unending 
blizzards of hail and sleet experienced in the 
centre of Stewart Island, where in other years 
we had lived for months in our waterproofs. 
There lay diffused over this blessed island, too, 
a balm of deeper healing to the spirit than glow 
of warmth and sunny skies. We dreamed no awful 
auguries of ill; we wakened in the mornings with 
easy minds and happy hopes; our island was 
guiltless of rats; there was no risk that the labour 
of weeks might be undone by these thrice-accursed 
brutes; there was no risk to the security of 
nests under observation. We were beyond the 
daily perturbations caused by newspapers, by 
the perusal—we devour them with our morning 
meal, and I have thought what a healthy whole- 
some tonic they must be for the day—of famine, 
accident, disgrace, and greed, paid for as pleasant 
things, gathered as orchids are gathered for our 
