JOURNAL OF A TRIP TO THE WAIKATO.

Anglo-Maori Warder, Volume 1, Issue 14, 27 July 1848, Page 3

JOURNAL OF A TRIP TO THE WAIKATO.

April Ist. Awoke again with the songs of birds at day light, and started off through the forests. The load every now and then opened into an open space like the pleasure grounds of a park, with pretty scenery enclosed I entirely by forest—but it was fern instead of lawn grass. However, they may be converted into lovely spots, being well sheltered, and water running through most of them; one or two swampy creeks in winter 1 expect ate very deep. The forest trees were magnificent. We noticed, more especially, the Renin, Hie queen of the New Zealand forest; and certainly a must noble and majestic nee it is, towering above the other trees, and its graceful pendant blanches falling in profusion upon the trees beneath, forming an agreeable contrast with its pale hue to the sombre foliage around it. But there was great difficulty in noticing the trees as we passed, unless we halted, as our path was literally a network of roots, and it required all our attention to be directed to our feet to prevent entangling them in tbe roots, and thiowmg a somerset. In wet weather it must be very difficult walking, on account of the slippeiiness of tbe large roots and the sloping ground, where it would require great caution to prevent falling against the trees. On emerging from the wood in one part, we ascended a hill, Te Mauraiotu, from whence we had a splendid view of Auckland, the Waitemaia, the Tainaki and surrounding district, and the whole of- the broad waters of the Manukau stretched before us. In our rear and on our rear forests adjacent terminated our view. Here we ■net an arrival of nutives with pigs, for the Auckland market, from Manngataulari. John, their chief, a relation of our friend Hipa was taking to Auckland, the proceeds of which were to be invested in the purchase of tobacco for the Hui, or feast to be given at Mauttgatautari, under the auspices ofMipa, who gave a mare to bis friends to provide the necessaries for the feast. Little perhaps did he think, poor man, that tbe food which he was pioviding he would never live to partake of. He was then evidently labouring under a severe attack of dysentery. After chatling some time with our new arrivals, and their gelling the minutest account from our party of the latest price current for pigs in the marker, we proceeded onwards, rather regretting breakfast time had not arrived. We descended into a forest, the longest we had yet traversed, probably by some miles in length, on emerging from which we came into a pretty open space (1 know not what name to give those spots, so following the Americans, may call them the prairies), : finely sheltered, and, as usual, water running through it, wanting only a mansion and glass to make it a paradise. Crossing a creek or swamp, for it paitook of both —plenty of water and raupo—arid passing over a slight undulation, we came up with our nymph Lydia, and the rest of tbe advanced guard, preparing breakfast near a stream, they having taken possession of a basket of potatoes left on their journey up, and secreted by them in the tern. It is certainly sur pt ising how the women, who are always iuaded with the heaviest burthen, will trip along with threequarters of a hundred weight upon their back, | and sit down to cook the food, which always falls to their lot, without the least apparent fatigue. Having passed through eome open rich land between tbe forests, we again entered the forest, where the solemn stillness which prevailed was very impressive— not a sound, not a note of a bird, to be heard—all was still as death, silence being only broken by the sound of our own voices, or of our footsteps. The birds, which are so harmonious at daybreak, cease the warbling soon after sunrise, and all is dill save the occasional screaming of a flock of parrots in their flight over us, of which tbeie are immense numbers- Flocks of wild pigeons were every now and then seen vr ingiug their migrations over the forest. During our progress we fell in with several droves of pigs, being driven to Auckland—but both themselves and iheir drivers passed sileutly on, quite in unison with the stillness of the place, merely exchanging a "How do jou do}" On quitting this wood we came suddenly upon an open space, ami so picturesque, that it had the appearance of being laid out by ait for the seat of some nobleman, and we involuntarily turned our eyes in quest of the mansion—but the place was yet in a stale ofaiiature,not an habitation, not a living crea lure, to be seen. One part we observed on the slope of a bill, standing prominently furwatd, seeming to allure the passer by lo tarry and erect a mansion upon it, and a lovelier place for one, I have seldom seen, the waters in the centre being almost artificially formed to lakes and serpentines. Soon, after this the sceneiy became more open—the land more inlly and irot so good, but well-wa-tered—we having passed several line creeks came to a rivulet with a stony bottom, called the Warkato : passing this » e came again upon some tine land irr the vicinity of Tuakau, and going through a small wood, came suddenly tipun the long-looked -for Waikatto. Here we were rather disappointed, for we had pictured to ourselves a lengthened view of the river, rolling onwards to tire sea, but at the point of our observalion, n e could onl) see a bend of the river, arrd that divided by an island- We now descended through some line fertile- laud, partly under cultivation, and partly disfigured by lire burnt trees, upon land intended for future cultivation, to the river—here all was business and busile—seveial canoes were just discharging their noisy freighr, and more continued coming in, so that the hubbub and squeaking of pigs, put one in mind of an English market. To a person who has never seen a canoe laden, it ts rather amusing to see the "!tu fait" manner in whrch the IWives u anugethe mailer, the sty, 01 prison, in which the pigs are kept on board is inadeof slicks lashed together, in shape resembling a huge cage—into llds.tue pigs aie pot ami cuntiued m ihe cei.tie of tne canoe, and when they discharge, Hie cage is opened, and the pigs unceremoniously turned over into the waier, when they nalk as. ore. This done and all other things removed, mid the cuuoe washed out, it is then diawn up, and after refreshments being pal taken of by man and bea»t they start oil en route lor Auckland. (,'f'v r>« ctmiinutfi/.}