Page:The journal of the Royal Geographic Society of London. Volume 34, 1864. (IA s572id13663720).pdf/296

88 Aspiring, the southern boundary of our province, the Southern Alps stretch, with the exception of a few passes, of which I shall speak in the sequel, to a remarkable col about 3500 feet high, called Harper’s Pass, which forms the northern boundary. It is here, we may presume, that the Southern Alps proper terminate, because at the north of this col, which leads from the sources of the Hurunui (east coast) to those of the Taramakau (west coast), the central chain is singularly broken, and also decreases in altitude, although it rises again in the Spencer Mountains (Nelson province), and attains a great altitude in Mountains Franklin and Humboldt.

Looking at the different systems of the Alps; we meet, south of the Hurunui Pass, with a large mountain-mass, which still preserves the Maori name of Kaimatau (eat birds). From the perpetual snow with which it is covered, numerous glaciers—some of considerable size—descend, giving rise to the main branch of the Waimakiriri (cold water), flowing to the east coast, whilst on its still unexplored western slopes, the outlets of some others fall, partly into the Taramakau and partly into the Okitika and Arahaura rivers (west coast).

A high pass leading into the river Arahaura, and apparently very difficult of access, exists here at the southern slopes of the large pyramidal mass of Kaimatau. The only knowledge of this pass which I possess was obtained through the description of a few aged natives at the west coast, who in former times had travelled by it; but the narrators never ended their description without adding that it was exceedingly bad and rough, and therefore in disuse.

At the southern side of this truly Alpine pass, another high mountain-system rises, of the orographical features of which we do not as yet possess any positive knowledge, although surveyors have chained up the rivers descending from it, almost within sight of its glaciers. The only view which I obtained of this large mountain-mass was from the summits of Mount Torlesse and Big Ben, in the Thirteen-mile bush-range, both on the southern banks of the Waimakiriri. The pyramidal form is also predominant here. Enormous snow-fields lie on its sides, from which large glaciers descend towards the valleys. The altitude of the highest summit I estimated at not less than 10,000 feet.

This system again ends near the southern and main branch of the Rakaia, and a pass of about 4500 to 5000 feet high brings the explorer to the west coast, by following the river Okitika. This pass was discovered in 1859 by Messrs. Butler and Baker, whilst seeking a road to the west coast; but rainy weather setting in, added to want of provisions when on the col, compelled them to abandon their project. The late Mr. Whitcombe was, last summer,