Page:Old Westland (1939).pdf/71

Rh “The level land of the coast reaches to this point—all timbered, chiefly with rata, on either side of the river.

“About a mile above Moutapu is a seam of coal, apparently of very fine quality, which presents itself under a stratum of mica slate. The coal is very hard and brittle, very bright and sparkling, burns freely, and is free from smell. The seam is some feet deep and level with the river’s edge, but at least 100 feet below the surface of the earth.”

On the 27th the party proceeded up the Mawhera to the point where it joins with the river now known as the Arnold, and here they remained for two days, this being a particularly good fishing ground. On the 29th they ascended the Arnold, reaching the lake which now bears Brunner’s name, in the evening. This lake the explorer describes as “a fine sheet of water, about six or seven miles square, near the middle of which is an island where we camped.”

This island is where the Maoris kept their prisoners and was the scene of the last cannibalistic feast on the West Coast. From time to time, in later years, many greenstone ornaments and weapons have been found here, and old-time Coast natives asserted that much fighting had taken place in the vicinity.

On January 30th, Brunner made the following entry in his diary: “This is the lake