On the Road to Auckland

           ONthe7thofFebruary,atsixo’clockinthemorning,thesignalfordeparturewasgivenbyGlenarvan.Duringthenighttherainhadceased.Theskywasveiledwithlightgrayclouds,whichmoderatedtheheatofthesun,andallowedthetravelerstoventureonajourneybyday.

           PaganelhadmeasuredonthemapadistanceofeightymilesbetweenPointKawhiaandAuckland;itwasaneightdays’journeyiftheymadetenmilesaday.Butinsteadoffollowingthewindingsofthecoast,hethoughtitbettertomakeforapointthirtymilesoff,attheconfluenceoftheWaikatoandtheWaipa,atthevillageofNgarnavahia.The"overlandtrack"passesthatpoint,andisratherapaththanaroad,practicableforthevehicleswhichgoalmostacrosstheisland,fromNapier,inHawke’sBay,toAuckland.FromthisvillageitwouldbeeasytoreachDrury,andtheretheycouldrestinanexcellenthotel,highlyrecommendedbyDr.Hochstetter.

           Thetravelers,eachcarryingashareoftheprovisions,commencedtofollowtheshoreofAoteaBay.Fromprudentialmotivestheydidnotallowthemselvestostraggle,andbyinstincttheykeptalook-outovertheundulatingplainstotheeastward,readywiththeirloadedcarbines.Paganel,mapinhand,tookaprofessionalpleasureinverifyingtheminutestdetails.

           Thecountrylookedlikeanimmenseprairiewhichfadedintodistance,andpromisedaneasywalk.Butthetravelerswereundeceivedwhentheycametotheedgeofthisverdantplain.

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