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Chapter XIII. We Decide to Cross the Island.—Guided by Potona.—Unexpected Difficulties.

We brought the native out of the hut, and Smart tried to question him on different subjects; but his language seemed totally different from the Maori which Smart spoke. He made us understand, however, that his people lived to the northwards; but in what numbers, or why they had attacked our companions, we could not learn.

Our prisoner was a fine, well built young fellow, nearly six feet in height, and with a not unpleasant cast of countenance. His features were regular and well cut, lips rather thick; his hair was jet black, and ornamented with several long feathers; while stuck in each of his ears he had a shark's tooth; his dress consisted solely of a kind of cloth wrapper, which he wore round his loins. He seemed very grateful for any kindness that was shown him. His leg soon became so much better that he could walk about, though still very stiff.

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His name we found was “Potona;” at least that was how he pronounced it. He pointed to some of the articles we had brought from the cave, as much as to ask where they came from, and on our pointing up the ravine in its direction he put on such a look of horror and affright that we supposed we must have invaded some sacred spot, or desecrated tabooed ground.

Our boat being gone, we held a consultation as to our future course of proceedings, our sanguine hopes of speedy departure having been rudely dissipated.

“It seems to me,” said one, “as if we were doomed to remain here all the rest of our lives. This is the second boat we have lost one way or another.”

“It's no use building another one,” said a second; “luck's against us. We had better try and strike right across the island to the east side.”

“And get lost in the bush, or die of starvation,” I said. “Why, men, do you think you could ever cross those mountains yonder?” pointing to the stupendous snow-capped ranges which rose to a height of thousands of feet behind us.

“Shure, and there may be a short cut through thim same, Captin,” said Pat.

“A short cut! what do you mean by that, Moroney?” I asked.

“Why, between two o' thim big pakes,” answered Pat.

“Oh! you mean a pass,” I exclaimed. “Well, as you like, men. Wherever you decide to go, there will I do my best to lead you.”

“Thin, be jabers, it will be roight inter the counthry we'll be afther goin',” answered Moroney.

“Yes! yes!” cried one and all. “We've had enough of boat-building.”

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Harry said nothing, but from his expression I could see he had as little hope of this plan succeeding as I had.

The next few days were spent in catching and smoking a good supply of fish for our journey. Pigeons we had no doubt we could shoot at any time in the bush. We made up all our provisions, including the remainder of the biscuits, tea, and coffee, into parcels for each; these we placed inside our blankets, making for each man a tolerably sized swag. The tent of course we were obliged to leave behind, as also the heavier articles. These we conveyed up into the hut, which we fastened securely. We took with us our three guns, and a large supply of powder, etc. Those who had not got guns carried a hatchet a-piece, while we who had firearms also carried a native tomahawk. Moroney would not leave the native flag behind, saying he would march into the settlements with it flying at our head.

When we were ready to start, a discussion arose as to what we should do with Potona: some were for letting him go where we were; others for taking him with us. Pat suggested tying him to a tree and letting him die by inches. This latter proposal was scouted immediately by the rest, for strange to say Potona had made himself so agreeable to us since his captivity, that we had got over our feelings of hatred towards him; and even began to take a liking to the man.

“Suppose we put the question to him,” said Harry “and see what he will do?”

By dint of signs and a few words of English he had picked up, we made him understand it rested with him to choose whether he would stay where he was or go with us.

He seemed to consider for a few moments, and then pointing to the mountains said “Potona go!” then pointing page 79 towards the sea he made signs that he would return after going with us as far as the high ranges.

“Well done yez, Pot, me boy!” exclaimed Pat, “shure you're a gintleman afther all, though yer color goes agin yer.” After which he seized Potona's hand, and wrung it until the tears came into the native's eyes. Seeing we all looked so pleased at his answer, Potona proceeded to shake hands all round.

“He may know of some pass, perhaps,” remarked Harry; “and if so will be invaluable to us.”

We tried to question him on this point; but he only shook his head; whether meaning he did not understand us, or knew of no pass, we did not then comprehend.

Regarding our projected route, we determined to continue up the spur on the right of us as far as possible, and trust to chance afterwards to find us some way of crossing the mountains.

It was hardly daylight one fine morning when we started on our perilous journey. We first struck up the ravine on the right until we reached the top of the ridge.

On the way up we passed near the caves, which we pointed out to Potona, at the same time drawing his attention to the flag and tomahawks we had brought away.

He seemed very frightened and hurried onwards, exclaiming “Toroa! Toroa! Tupo.” We found out afterwards that he meant spirits dwelt there. But further of this hereafter.

Just as we reached the summit of the ridge, the sun rose in all his glory over the snow-clad peaks in the east; promising us a fine day for our start.

It must here be mentioned that neither Smart nor Moroney would part with their respective pets, the two parrots and laughing jackass. They tied them to their page 80 swags by the legs; so that they could not escape; and I must say the poor birds exhibited a great degree of patience during their enforced painful position.

Our project of crossing the mountains immediately after winter, when the snow must be deeper than usual and the rivers flooded, may appear an almost an incredible act of folly—but it must be remembered that we did not know how far we should have to travel, nor how long we should take about it; and we wanted to have as much time as possible at our disposal to search the ranges thoroughly for an easy and practicable route over or between them. We had duly weighed and calculated every chance for and against us, and it was after the fullest consideration that we decided to start when we did.

Upwards we toiled, higher and higher, keeping along the top of the ridge; sometimes it was tolerably clear, at others we had to scramble over rough masses of rock, and again had great difficulty in forcing our way through dense scrub or underwood. We travelled about eight miles that day and camped at night in a small hollow by the side of a spring. We lighted a fire, roasted some pigeons we had shot, which, washed down with a pannikin of hot tea, formed our repast.

Pat and Smart released their respective pets, and right glad the poor birds seemed to be able to stretch their legs.

We then rolled ourselves up in our blankets, one having been given to Potona, and after replenishing the fire to keep our feet warm, we sought much-needed and welcome repose.

For several days we continued up the same route, till one evening we came to where the ridge turned abruptly to the right and seemed to run parallel with the mountains for a long distance. In front of us was a wide and deep valley page 81 or gorge, some ten miles wide; the bottom apparently quite level, and covered with dense forest. In the centre of the valley we could see a considerable river winding along.

This state of the country was more than we had bargained for; having made sure that the ridges ran straight back till they joined the mountains. We camped where we were for the night, and in the morning held a consultation as to our future best line of travel—whether we should continue along the top of the spur, or striking down into the valley, try to cross the river and ascend the opposite mountain side. Another discovery we made here was that behind the snowclad peaks, which had been visible from the hut, there was another far higher chain of mountains.

Truly the prospect looked hopeless; but now we had come so far, we would not turn back. Better for some of us if we had!

We determined to descend into and cross the wide valley in front of us, in preference to following up the ridge, which seemed to have no ending.

We turned and bid good-bye to the sea, which lay far below us, and which we should now lose sight of, probably until we either reached the East Coast, or had to return from where we started from.

The descent to the valley would have been performed that day, but half way down we found our way stopped by a precipice of a hundred feet at least in height, and we had to make a long detour before we found a place where it was possible to descend.

Next day in the afternoon we stood on the bank of the river we had seen from above, after travelling all day through a forest of magnificent trees, consisting of black birches, totara, and black and white pines.

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The river was wide and divided into several streams, none of them very deep, so that we were able to ford them in safety; and at night camped on the opposite side. It was fortunate we had done so, for next morning we found the river rolling along in one tremendous muddy stream—no doubt the last few hot days had melted the snow and caused its sudden rise. Huge trees were borne past us, and the current could not have run at less than fifteen miles an hour. Potona made us understand that the name of the river was Pareoranuia, and that his people lived at its mouth. He had picked up a small quantity of English words and we had learnt a little of his native tongue from him, so that with a little patience we managed to understand one another.

We learnt the native names of the trees and birds we saw, but none of them were the same as the Maori. For instance: Totara, he called roi; black pine, hemulu; white pine, pubai; and birch, koite. In my narative I will, however, use the Maori names, as learnt partly from Smart at the time, and partly since.

This day we began ascendimg the side of the mountain, and at night camped about half way up its side, though not yet as high as the lower edge of snow. The air began to grow very cold as we ascended; and the single blanket each carried, though a thick one, was not sufficient protection at night.

About noon next day we first trod snow; and here our real difficulties began.

We directed our course towards a gap in the mountains some little distance to the left, but a long way above us. At night we halted in the most sheltered spot we could find, and melted snow for water. Two more days, and we reached the month of the pass we had been making for.

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From this point we could see between the mountains we had ascended, and get a good view of the next range. The latter seemed much higher than the former; but we thought we could observe a pass through it. To reach it we should have to descend the other side of our present elevated position; but what lay between the two lines of mountains we could not as yet discover.

We were just about to enter the gap, when it struck me that Potona might wish to return now. On questioning him he gave us to understand that we could never cross the wide extent of broken country that separated the two ridges; and that as we should be obliged to return he would not abandon us.

It took us a whole day to pass through to the east side of these peaks, the snow being very deep in the hollow through which directed our course.

The following morning we obtained a view of the gorge in front of us. Like the valley we had crossed a few days previously, the bottom seemed level and covered with bush. On the opposite side, however, as far as the eye could reach in either direction, there extended a line of dark and towering precipices, which seemed to effeetually bar any further advance, and the pass we had observed on the day prior to this, ended at the ridge of one of them.

“Let's descend to the bottom, at any rate,” suggested Harry, after we had held a consultation; “we may there be able to discover a means of scaling those cliffs. If not, why we had better turn back and build boat No. 3.” Hopeless as this seemed, we mechanically started downwards. The snow did not reach nearly so low on this side as the other, and about a third of the way down, we entered the bush, which continued from here to the foot of the precipices on the page 84 opposite side. It was so thick and dense that it took us several days to cross the gorge.

We found a small river flowing between us and the cliffs, and in many places washing their base. Its course, however, was in the opposite direction to the large one we crossed previously; and this led to the surmise that it might come out on the east side of the island. Potona, on being questioned, said it was the Pareoranuia—or in other words the same river we had already forded. He furthermore traced its route with a stick on the sand, showing where it passed through the range we had just crossed and doubled back on its course.

We decided to camp here for a day or two to rest and recruit our strength, and at the same time search for some place to ascend the cliffs.

It was while sitting around the fire here one evening that our native companion—who by this time could make himself pretty well understood—related to us all he knew about the caves or burying-places we had discovered; and as near as I can remember his account ran as follows.