Page:Rambles on the Golden Coast of New Zealand.djvu/79



HE party who had left the “Geelong,” and had crossed the Hollyford (or Kaduku) bar, described as sailing up towards the head-waters of Lake M‘Kerrow (or Kakapo). The two names of the places are given, because the first is the name fixed by the map: the second is that in most familiar use; and there are reasons for about the same amount of sympathy for one as for the other. The river flows into the lake by two channels, about half a mile distant to each other. We correctly chose the stream on the right hand, and found it quite as much as we could do, with oars and sail, to stem the current at its junction with the lake, and to get over the little “bar” caused by the strength of the breeze. Immediately inside of this, we landed at the foot of a spur, which, by the predominance of the birch-tree, by the extensive slip of rocky débris which its side presented, and by its snow surmountings, had rather an Alpine aspect. As we landed, our attention was attracted by an object common enough among our company, but but uncommon as a feature of the country—an old coat, hanging from a rata tree. It had evidently been left by some digging party as a signal, as in a hollow behind the tree, covered with the “fly” of a tent, was found a bagful of flour, an adze, a parcel of nails, and portions of blankets. On a tree, a few paces behind, were carved the words “J. Wallace; Jan. 3, ’64;” and on another tree the words “Howden and party.” It was apparent that the first inscription had no relation to the “plant” near the beach. Although acquiring a musty aspect, it had been deposited much more recently than the date indicated. Its contents had probably been left by the party whom Mr Cleave describes as having visited the head of the lake, for, near hand, there was a “mogey,” or a compromise between a boat and a raft, formed of ship’s planks and stems of Native flax—a primitive means of conveyance which, Mr Cleave states, the party had constructed. There were also traces of a canoe having been formed out of the trunk of a tree, by which the party had probably returned to the coast. In the vicinity there were traces of a camping place, and remnants of old boots, which had evidently done eminent service in the exploration of the country. We were puzzled by the presence on the beach of a vessel’s boom or topmast, but its appearance at this distance from the sea was explainable by the remembrance that the schooner “Pride” had been wrecked at the mouth of the river, and it was possible that this relic of her had drifted hither on a solitary voyage of exploration, or, what is more likely, that it had been used by the diggers as the keel of their “mogey.”

It had been ascertained, during a short stoppage on the beach at the lower end of