Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1880 edition. Excerpt: ... skeletons of ancient terraces now defaced and overgrown, but which, in their prime, long centuries agone, were rainbow-hued, glorious and beautiful as Te Tarata! After sleeping all night at the foot of the White Terrace, within hearing of the roar of many geysers, surrounded by the fitful bubbling of numberless "ngawhas," we rose with the sun, and, embarking in the small canoe, were carried swiftly down the rapid of Te Ariki, surrounded by dense overgrowth, and disturbing innumerable wild ducks. In about ten minutes we shot into Tarawera, at the best time, as the sun rose over the encircling hills. Paddling slowly down, we bade at length a regretful farewell to the varied beauty of the finest of the northern lakes; and, arriving at the village, we started immediately for Taupo, accompanied by a native boy to point out the short track winding through the hills to the Taupo, or Napier-road. The traveller is recommended, on leaving Wairoa for Taupo, to take a guide as far as the Napier-road, as the mountain track is not of the plainest, and is occasionally hidden by the dense growth of ferns here and there arching overhead; by taking this track, too, some nine miles odd are saved, which is a consideration if the whole distance to Taupo--over fifty miles--is to be done in one day. The track branches off from the Ohinemutu-road, and runs along the shore of Rotokakahi. or the Green Lake, till, at the furthest extremity, the native settlement of Kaiteraria is passed; then, bending to the right of a steep incline, the hills lie before us. Here our guide deserted us, after tracing a rude map of the track on the sand. What was to be done? The guide was homeward bent; to return would be to lose a day. We determined to go on, after making a careful...
