Page:Rambles on the Golden Coast of New Zealand.djvu/30

18 remained in the neighbourhood of the Maryleo until a fresh supply of provisions arrived for his party, and also to enable the explorers to mark a track for his guidance. Mackay’s expedition blazed a track up the Maruia Valley through the bush to the Maruia grass plains. They were now almost destitute of provisions, the supplies of native birds and edible vegetables were very scanty, and in order to eke out the remnant in hand, Alexander Mackay and Frank Flowers reluctantly returned to Nelson, leaving James Mackay and the three Natives to continue the exploration and connect by blazed track the Maruia plain with the Upper Grey Valley. The party progressed but slowly, being half starved, and Mr James Mackay having a bad gathered knee caused by being stabbed with spear grass on the Maruia plain. The Maoris became so tired and disheartened that they refused to proceed further, said they were in unknown country probably inhabited by wild men of the woods or enormous lizards, and they had better return to Nelson, or make up their minds to sit down quietly and die in the camp. James Mackay had, however, caught sight of a distant hill, which he recognised as one he had ascended in the Upper Grey in 1859, and he told them they would be in the Grey in two days. He cut and slashed his knee with a razor so as to ease the swelling and enable them to move quicker, and they succeeded in reaching the Grey. They marked the track the whole way from the Maruia plain to the junction of the Brown and Upper Grey Rivers. They shortly after this arrived in country where wood hens and fern root were plentiful, and again enjoyed a full meal. The time occupied in this journey was seven weeks, two of which period were passed in a state of semi-starvation. On reaching the Mawhera (now Greymouth) Native Settlement they found seven Collingwood Natives, and Mr Samuel M. Mackley who had travelled by the coast from West Wanganui, anxiously awaiting their arrival. Mr Mackay’s gathered knee became very bad, and Mr Mackley, having been originally educated to the medical profession, and having a few useful drugs, etc., with him, managed with great care and attention to make it fit for travelling again in the course of three weeks. At this time Mr Haast and his party arrived, after suffering considerable hardships. The schooner “Gipsy,” Captain Charles M‘Cann, which had been chartered by the Nelson Provincial Government to bring supplies for Mr Haast’s party, entered the Grey River. She brought Mr Mackay a private stock for himself and party. The “Gipsy” thus proved the fact of the Grey being available for coastal traffic, the same as the cutter “Supply” had proved the Buller to be. Messrs Mackay and Mackley, accompanied by all the Native residents of the Grey, Teremakau, Arahura, and Hokitika settlements, travelled then by the sea coast to the native settlement at Poherua Lagoon (near Okarito). Here the negotiations for the land purchase were conducted, and it was arranged at the conclusion that Mr Mackay and the leading chiefs should proceed to Jackson’s Bay and lay out the reserves from there to Poherua Lagoon, and then the whole party should return to the Grey, fixing the reserves between Poherua and the Grey as they proceeded northwards. On arriving at Mahitahi (now Bruce Bay) Messrs Mackay and Mackley were closely examined and interrogated by three very ancient aboriginal females who had never before seen any person of European race. Their coats were styled (whare-o-te-tinana) body houses, their waistcoats (pakitua) small body mats,