This page has been validated.
70
Old Westland

in mid stream. Before morning, rain commenced to fall in torrents and the river rapidly rose and commenced to flood the island. The rain continuing, there was nothing left but to take to the raft. On their embarking, they were at once whirled away by the current, and in dire peril. After travelling down stream for some distance they were able to land on another island and there remained until the flood subsided. From this point they dropped down the river without further adventure until they came to the Maori Pa not far from the mouth. Here they were well received by the natives and rested for some days. The journey to this point had occupied 23 days, much longer than was expected, and in consequence their food supply had run out, and they were compelled to live on what they were able to catch. In this respect the Maoris showed wonderful ingenuity in trapping birds, while eels were also in good supply. From the pa they proceeded north to the Mawhera, accompanied by Chief Tarapuhi. Here Locke broke down, his feet giving out with the rough travelling he had undergone.

Leonard Harper, after resting for some time, decided to proceed south, and he continued down the Coast for over 200 miles. On this trip he saw the great glaciers, the Franz Josef, and the Fox, which he named the Albert and the Victoria respectively, after the Prince Consort