JOURNAL OF A TRIP TO THE WAIKATO.

Anglo-Maori Warder, Volume 1, Issue 21, 14 September 1848, Page 4

JOURNAL OF A TRIP TO THE WAIKATO.

(Continued.) After spending a short time with our host, we walked on through the native cultivation at UNKNOWN a distance of a mile or two, until we came to Pepepe, the site of an old fortification or Pa, v hic-h certainl) Irora its position must have bade u.fiance to the assault of an enemy ere the introduction of tire anus. The pa is situated upon .. ' !!, having the liver in Hunt and deep trenches \x cich bide and at Ihe rear, which could be filli>.l h t ;h water—the ft out standing out into the i * ■■*:, . ommanding the Und on each side. ' —Rose at da) light, and as we had, during ■ ■ - i-ious evening,made atmngeinenls forre- *■ ' _ Mislead of goiiu on to Roturua, as was *■■ . i- i iiteution, we went over to Pepepe and •■ . . i .r t well of unr companions—who were •-di.jgl) disappointed thai we were notgoing 1 ii-■: -, witii them, and here we witnessed, as v* * ii t.J done on some other occasions, the attach-

""it and friendship which these people soine--1 ~..es exhibit towards whom they have foimed a put tiality. It was a sore disappointment to them thai we uete obliged to leave Ibem, and they showed great regret j bill we promised them that pivbably on some future occasion we would honor their Kaniga with a visit. Having procured a canoe and a guide we crossed the river in order to get to the top of Taupiri, a conical mountain which rises close by the liver side in fiont of Mr. Ashwell's. The mountain is of cousrdeiable elevation and covered wiih trees to the summit on three bides— The ascent is by no means difficult, if ascended through the wood, on the southern side, from a little river which runs runs at its foot. In ascending, the attention is tepeatedly directed to the many varieties of wood which adorn the sides of the mountain, many of which are valuable furniture woods. On reaching the summit a most magnificent and extensive view presented itself. Turning towards the Soutb an immense plain stretched before us as far as the eye could reach, and in the distance rises the solitary point of Fironghra ; arrd at sorrre little distance trom it, on the left, are seen the summit of some lesser moiiitains at Kakepuku. Farther to the left, and bejond these,are seen the high range of Mannga Tautari, and again on the lett the Patere range On tbe right of Pnonghia the lofty range ofPukewahu stretches across towards the west coast, bending to the right in the direction of Wbangaroa. On the right hand side of the river some lolt* woody ranges run along its bank, until its divide with Ihe Waipa. At the feet of Taupiii a small river called Maugaw ari, w Inch i i»es at some distance fiom the Piako, empties itself into the Waikalo. The greatei part ol the plain bet" ecu Taupiri and ihe Waikato appeared to be of a wet and maishy nature, aiidfrom what we could learn is very swampy 111 winter, and in man} places covered with water, being almost a dead level, but, on the other side the river, between it and the Waipa 1 understand it is a very rich country. Indeed, we very much regretted we were prevented going on our jouiney to judge for ourselves, being within a fen- miles of ihe junction of the Waikalo und the'Waipa when we turned back at Pepepo. On turning round and looking northwards the landscape is exceedingly puturesque. Immediately in front rose a range suuilai to the one we were upon, though not bo lofti, and lmining away to the lijjlit, ur eastw aid, towards the Piako, Beneuth this range, j

ii front, flowed the majestic Waikato in all its 'orluous grandeur till lost in the distance beneath the mountain ranges. On the right or the Waikato, in the vicinity of Tanpiri, is a chain of Jakes. The principal one, Waikiri, lay stretched before us. There are also some others, more to the right, extending towards the Piakn, but excluded from our view. The lake Waikaii had a very pretty appearance. Its length is about 15 miles and about sin breadth, tteyond this, again, and more to the right, the hills on the) Hourakt presented themselves, and, in the extreme distance, the remarkable hjll opposite Coromandel Harbour, at least we took it to be that, and the guide confirmed our opinion. On the left bank of the Waikato, only a few miles from us, is a small lake called Wahi, and some miles further up, in the same direction, another more considerable one, the Wangapoe ; some distance berond which the fc view is hounded by the mountain ranges. The scenery in this river is very solemn ; thedifferent lakes surrounded by undulating hills, and these bounded again by wooded ranges whose dark and sombre summits appear in solemn grandeur, added to the profound stillness and solitary appearance of the landscape, impose one with the idea of being in a primeval land ;—not a living being to be heard or seen ;—it is the very home of solitude. Having scanned so much of the scenery we descended the hill, and accepting Mr. Ash" ell's kind invitation to dine, we were most hospitablv entertained. We were much pleased with his neat house and garden, which has also a fine orelm.d at the rear, in which are cherries and peachps growing in wild Inxu rianoe. The apples are not si> luxuriant, which we attribute to the soil being lon light: a proper admixture of clay would doubtless put them in a thriving condition. Having spent some pleasant hours with our kind host and hostess, and formed the plan of going to the Lakes we bad seen from Tanpiri, we reluctantly declined his pressing invitation to spend the evening, as it was necessary to get to Terape to obtain a canoe for our excursion. Accordingly, we took a small canoe and arrived in a short time at Terape, w here our return was welcomed by W— ■ and the rest of our acquaintances at that place. We soon arranged for toe hire of a canoe and two men for our excursion,—a matter which, no doubt, with natives near Auckland would have taken a long time to have arranged at the same price. We had frequently remarked the timber we were fiom Auckland themotecivil the natives became. Having in due time got our supper, we, to make a raerr> evening, sang a few songs, which uile delighted them. They are all very fond of music and singing; and, if the snng is interpreted to them they quite enter into the spirit of u more especially if it at all coincides with their habits. Such, for instance,as the "Canadian Boat Song" ■ they quite enter into, as the time is suited to i their paddling the r-anoe, and, indeed, anv j lively tune they seem to be paitial t O . * They < also asked us to teach them a few bj mn tunes ' as they wished to lea*n some new o nes . They ' have only one or two tunes, except their own mo- ' notonous ones. Thes«, indeed, we found a very ' nice lot uf natives,and remarkably obliging. ) To be continued. j