TRAVELS IN WONDERLAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 256, 6 November 1901, Page 2

TRAVELS IN WONDERLAND.

By J. S. J. Penoelley.] No. V.

And the Heavens and Earth became disturbed. Fire and water descended ; the earth was rent in twain; volcanoes belched forth their lava, and the people were consumed.

The morning of the third day broke ominous, giving forebodings of a coining storm. Rain fell heavily on the shingles; the God of Pohutu was active; and the high wind carried great volumes of sulphurous fumes across the landscape. Whakarewarewu was almost shut from view, by one great sea of smoke. The sight was vivid in tiie extreme, and as the morn wore on. it became more weird and disturbed. But fo conclude the scenes at this place I was bent, and once again found myself m the midst of violent torrents of water, enveloped in fumes of sulphur. I visited To Warn, the entrance to which is by a circular hole about three feet in diameter. The place lias been explored to a depth of about 15 feel, when a great cavern is reached, but it is not recorded what there is further down, probably scenes far more marvellous than those related bv Rider Haggard in his powerful liook, "She.” Then we go to j the Giant’s Cauldron, which is difficult [ and dangerous to approach. The mud volcanoes and the Opal Lake are objects |of interest. The great cones hear a I brilliant white exterior, cracked and lined j like a piece of over baked potion. With- | in they are likened unto v iei.es’ eaiflj urons, in which some spliit; ->i; .er hell-broth i boils and bubbles. Jacks Bath has a j reputation for its cute in eases of obstinate ; rheumatism. Going a'oug a desolate > sulphurous track we pass Sodom and ■ Gomorrah, and enjoy a plunge into the , Alum Bath. And thus 1 conclude a very : inferior description of the thermal area | called —Hell. But before leaving 1 cannot j forget the sad „u:,ry related of a young ! lady who, while gazing into one of the ! numerous cauldrons, fell and was never i more seen,

| *• Passing with the boatman pale, to a land beyond the shore.”

And this unhappy event, marking with sorrow and pant what was intended as a pleasant pastime, should serve us a warning to utners, for the ground is treacherous and dangerous, and no power on earth cou.d ever rescue he or she who falls into this terrible pit—a place of everlasting torment, with raging tires mid rapids; a ground honey-combed, the heat from subterranean lires rising unhidden, and quenchless elements ready to engulf ono into an eternity from winch none can ever return.

Si.,nc most imposing native structures are met with in this village, ami the carvings show that in this Art the Maoris possess greilu genius. In ttic cane house tile visitor is conducted by a guide, who gives a very interesting lectnrette on the surroundings, which embrace a variety of images, denoting certain men and women who, tor deeds ot evil, wore punished. One, a woman, fur her terrible tongue of slander, had that valuable adjunct removed in its entirety, and then died, ft is not necessary to take a guide every day. The stranger should do this on his first visit, taking a hurried glance over the scene, and watching the pathways, and iiow near to approach the more dangerous scenes. Then lie etui go alone afterwards and feast at will his eye upon the magnificence in which he is surrounded. For days together 1 never tired of the wonders in Wonderland. Incidents purely pleasing meet the eve at every turn. At one place, sheltered from wind and weather, is seated a lady busy with her needle; at another turn a group picnicking, and lunch laid before them, while a little girl holds a ladel containing a few eggs in a boiling cauldron about six inches sipiare; here wo meet the artist with his pencil; the amateur photographer gaining a picture of Nature. And so wo can go on. The novelist and the scientist all go there in search of knowledge, either to read or inspect. Thus we spend the days in pleasant and profitable enjoyment—a recreation to both mind and body in the study of the Greatness of the World. After i hud completed this portion at home i went to Mokoia Island, and listened to the love story of Hincmoa, which I previously related, thence to Tikitere. a huge valley with subterranean caverns, and boiling lakes. A short neck of land divides one sea from another, and this is spanned by a bridge, which vibrates under tbe terrific shocks from underground volcanoes, and this is called “ The Gates of Hiules,” the whole earth is subphurous, with an Inferno, in whose depths a mud geyser is tossing and dashing with great fury seething contents of mud. Thence to the rich green lake of ltotokawa—a paradise of exquisite beauty, and to the roaring steam holes which surround Hamurawa, a charming spot among cherry trees, rivers, and springs, and a row over a water so intensely cold in any weather that it is impossible to keep one’s hand in tho water many seconds. Its depth is unknown, and it is asserted that it lias no bottom—a true bottomless pit but so charming -that one could chant its praises for ever. I threw a half-crown over the side of the canoe, and live minutes after took it out of the water. Then wo throw coppers and various coins, even gold, hut they all obstinately refused to sink, dancing like corks. This is accounted for by the force from the great water-wells below ; but it is really marvellous, and I picture no scene of extravagance. The most delicious fish, rare and expensive, are caught here in season. This pretty spot is only eight miles from Kotorua. Then we go to Tarawcra, but I. regret the glory has departed from eight ! of tho pretty colored terraces so famed in | history as the White, Pink, and lihio | Terraces. The terrible eruption hero will be remembered by many residents at Gisborne, for at so far a distance the shock was felt, while the electrical disturbance was scarcely noticed at Kotorua. Sophia resided there at tile time, and was engaged by tourists in their wanderings. It was this woman who, when tiie whole earth was in a state of collapse, burning mountains around her, the cries of the dying and the crashing of falling timbers, and in the midst of terrific forked lightning and tongues of fire, crammed as many as she could, heedless of comfort, into her wharc, hut a young Englishman was killed while reaching the building. Over 100 lives were lost. History records tiiis even most graphically; hut Sophia, in her own way, tells the mournful story. Sh gives a vivid picture, and paints a powerful scene of the horrors of that night, tn pure knglish, embellished with some pathos, the account of that awful night, as given by Sophia, is tru l v a tale of sorrow. I viewed all the ruins and ascended the mountain, which was literally split in twain ; saw all tho old relics which mark tiie scene with awe, and to various other places within 40 miles of Kotorua. They are beautiful in the extreme, the cauldrons of mud, the Devil's Plow-hole, and the pretty valley of the Waiotapu, known as Galilee. My visit to Kotorua has been an event in my life, unique, as it must be, and will be, to every living soul who goes there. Its history and the thrilling scenes no human being can possibly forgot, and as long as life lasts memory will be centred upon a place so full of greatness ; so marvellous, and so wonderful. -Man will never truly describe by pen or picture what the eye can only convey to the mind. He might give the reader an idea concerning the place, but he can never really pourtray its magni i tude anil marvels. I have endeavored, in a series of articles, to faintly paint a picture—an accurate description ; and a story without color or exaggeration. If I have succeeded in so doing, then I feel handsomely rewarded. And now let me draw the curtain over this region of wonders, and allow the reader to ponder, as he won lers, over the powers that exist in the provision of a place so weird, yet so beneficial in healing those great and distressing complaints which alltict mankind, besides pourtraying to us the handiwork of a Going Sublime and Perfect.