NARRATIVE OF EVENTS FIFTY YEARS AGO.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8644, 3 December 1889, Page 3

NARRATIVE OF EVENTS FIFTY YEARS AGO.

[Compiled by W. H. J. Skffsrn ]

DR. DIEFFENBACH STARTS TO ASCEND MOUNT EGMONT.

Sunday, December 1, 1839.— Dr. Dieftenbach, in his work entitled " Travels in New Zealand, says on landing they found near Sugarloaf Point about twenty natives. The place seemed to be a fishing station, and those of the Taranaki tribes who had not left in consequence of the Waikato raids on the district were living in concealed potatoe plantations, or further south of Cape Egmont, probably at Umaroa or Opunake. On the arrival of the party from the Tory being made known, the natives soon assembled, and with tears welcomed their old friend Mr Richard Barrett. The natives even then were afraid of the Waikatos, for in the evening, noticing a fire in the direction of Kawhia, they kept awake during the greater part of the night, fearing being surprised by their enemies. Monday, December 2. — On proceeding northward, Dr. Dieffenbach says he found "three small creeks," the Huatoki, the Henui, and the Waiwakaiho. Everywhere on their banks were traces of former cultivation and of native villages, but no one was living there when he passed by them ; thus the finest district in NewZealand was almost uninhabited — a sad instance of the mutual hatred existing among a savage class. Toesdat, December 3. — On this day a start was made northward, the party going along the beach. They crossed the Huatoki and Henui creeks, and turned into the interior over the downs and hillocks of the coast, which were covered with fern and flax. Dr. DiefEenbach had decided to ascend Mount Egmont, and the natives tried to dissuade him from making the attempt. They told him that the mountain was tapu ; that there ivere ngarara (crocodiles) on it which would undoubtedly eat him. The moa was also said to exist there. After much talk the natives were persuaded to let an old Tohunga, or priest, go and show the way as far as he knew it, and with him and an American man of colour Dr. Dieffenbach started as stated above, on Tuesday, December 3. Tanguhu-na-Waikato was the native priest's name who was to act as guide on this expedition. About two miles from the coast they came into a low shrubby forest, where the soil consisted mostly of a dark vegetable mould. Not far from this point they crossed the Waiwakaiho River. About a mile further they passed another creek — the Mangaoraka. The foreßt they were going through consisted of tawa. Shortly after leaving this spot the spot the country began to rise a little. Everywhere, Dr. Dieffenbach states, the vegetation appeared most vigorous, and the primeval forest was often almost impenetrable on account of thick creepers. They scarcely ever obtained a view of the sun, and the shade of the trees produced a delightful coolness, although the thermometer in open places rose to 90 deg., and at six the evening, on a hill, it stood at 80 deg Few birds were to be seen, and perfect silence reigned through the forest. At sunset the party had arrived "at the clear summit of the hill, where they found several houses, built on posts, where provisions were stored. It was here they camped for the night, taking up their abode in an old house, where rats ran over them the whole night. Wednesday, December 4. — Before sunrise the party were again astir, and resumed their journey in an east- south-easterly direction. The thermometer stood then at 44 deg. They descended the hill, and passed several streams flowing eastward, and went through more dense forests. At noon they halted at another plantation, where the party remained that day. The heat was very oppressive, the temperature I at noon being 90 deg. in the sun, and 72 deg. in the shade. TironsDAY, December 5. — The native could not be prevailed to start on this morning, as he said the weather would be bad for some days, and he was correct, for towards the evening the rain began to fall. Friday, December 6. — It poured with rain all this day. Satuhday, December 7. — In the afternoon the weather somewhat cleared up, and another start was made, but before the party had proceeded far the rain again compelled them to halt. They took up their quarters under the shelter of a rata tiee, and remained there all night. Dr. Dieffenbach observes that tra veiling through the bush in New Zealand is rather a scrambling affair, and with a load it is very fatiguing, and could not be kept up for a long time. Fifteen miles he considered a very good day's work, even in the open parts of the island. Sunday, December 8. — They started again, crossing the Mangaoraka several times, camping at night iv the open air under trees.