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Potona or Unknown New Zealand

Chapter XI. Preparations for Departure—A Farewell Visit to the Cave

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Chapter XI. Preparations for Departure—A Farewell Visit to the Cave.

After another month or so had passed the stormy weather showed signs of coming to an end: fine days became mo e frequent, the gales lessened in fury, till at last the winter fairly glided away; the sun rose morning after morning unobscured, save occasionally by light fleecy clouds, and the lake fell to its summer level. Once again we all emerged from our winter quarters—and only those who have been similarly situated and shut up for long months, can appreciate our light hearts and buoyant spirits on being once again able to bask in the sun's rays. Ye inhabitants of sunny climes, who complain of the heat and everlasting brightness of day; pay a visit to this part of the world, and be a hermit for one winter, then perhaps ye will realise the blessings of sunshine. Is thee not some powerful magnetism from the sun which acts upon our spirits? Do we ever feel half so joyous and happy on dark gloomy days as we do on those when all is bright and clear? Are not our spirits rather like a thermometer, on which the sun acts, and whose rise and fall is mainly due to the all-powerful king of day, though at times acted upon by other ulterior causes?—But to return to my narrative.

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Had anyone from outside our little community been suddenly transported to the borders of the lake on this particular morning, he would most assuredly have come to the conclusion that he had alighted upon a batch of escaped lunatics. We jumped, we yelled, we shouted and laughed, we raced, wrestled, and altogether cut the the most outrageous and ludicrous capers that ever human beings did! We felt that our hearts would burst with joy, or that we should go off into the feminine refuge for the oppressed—“high-strikes”—unless we gave vent to our bottled-up spirits. Nothing so serious however occurred, which was fortunate, considering we had no ladies' arms to fall into, or smelling salts to apply; the most probable cure that would have been applied was a ducking in the lake: and allow me here to offer this remedy for fainting, “high-strikes,” and all such maladies, “prevention is better than cure,” and I have no doubt the very thought of a sudden sousing would effectually keep these dreadful disorders at a respectful distance. By degrees we quietened down to our usual manly gravity of mind and body, and began to turn our attention to future proceedings.

First it was decided we should convey the different portions of our boat, which had been shaped during the winter, down to the beach, where we would put them together. Prior to doing this, however, it was thought best to make a trip down unencumbered with any loads, and clear a track to the site of our projected dockyard, and so make the transport less difficult.

“Let's be off at once, then,” sang out one of the men; “the sooner we get out of this place the better.” “Agreed,” cried we all, and after supplying ourselves with what hatchets we possessed, we started. Finding no serious difficulties in making a tolerable track, we soon arrived at the beach.

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The small level space on which our tent had formerly stood was covered with driftwood, mud, and stones, by the overflowing of the creek in the wet weather. The water had now returned to its legitimate bounds, and we began clearing away some of the debris to form sites for our tent and boat-building establishment, as we intended living in the former until our work was completed. By night the spot was looking pretty respectable and clean; and we returned to the hut.

Next morning we commenced transporting the tent, and all our worldly possessions, including the materials for our boat, down to the bay; and succeeded in getting everything on the spot by dark.

Our tent was re-erected on its old site, and things made comfortable for the remaining short period which we fondly hoped would see us ready to bid good-bye to this inhospitable shore.

Man proposes but God disposes. Our boat rapidly assumed form; every day some of us were working at it.

One day I was strolling along the beach to the left of the camp, with my gun on my shoulder, intending to try and shoot some ducks for supper, when, wedged into a erevice of the rocks, I discovered a broken iron harpoon. Knowing that it had not belonged to our party, I came to the conclusion that we were not the first Europeans who had visited this spot. On returning I informed my companions of my surmises, and they came to the same decision.

Another three weeks passed, and our boat was ready. Some of the party proposed our making a farewell visit to the hut, the lake, and the caves, before starting on our voyage to the settlements; so one morning—we were to bid good-bye for ever to the bay on the following day—we started upwards to the lake; leaving “Swabs” and Smith to take page 70 care of the camp. We found the hut just as we had left it; and after carving our names on a rough board which we nailed up inside, we fastened the door and proceeded on to the cave. Arrived there, we lighted our torches, which we had brought for the purpose, and entered. After a cursory examination of the first portions, we emerged into the burial vault, which we determined to search and investigate thoroughly. We found it extended a distance about two hundred yards in depth, by from twenty to thirty in width, and twenty feet in height.

At the far end, however, we found a small passage leading onwards, and on exploring it we discovered it was a second outlet or entrance to the caves; but instead of debouching on the ledge of the rock before referred to, it came out some distance to the right; the mouth being so covered with fern and scrub that it would have never been noticed from the outside. From this opening we emerged, bringing away with us several hatchets and spears, also the flag, as curiosities. We then began retracing our steps down the mountain side.

On the way we discussed the probable race of beings who had made the cave their burial ground. Smart, to whom we always referred on these matters, informed us that he was not aware of there ever having been any large population on this coast; it was always supposed to be inhabited solely by a few wandering parties of natives driven from the east side of the island by the present Maori race. He said the implements we had found corresponded to a certain extent with those used by the Maoris; but that the latter had never lived on this coast at all; being confined to the north island, and the north and east and southern parts of the south island. None of us being well up in traditionary lore, we gave up further attempts to solve the problem as a bad job.