Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1890-09-17

Walkota, in the North Island of New
Zealand 1t so CHANGED that l had
ridden forward little ahead of the
wagon and the remainder OF the par
ty, and, refining my horse upon the
summit of a ridge of wooded ground
Cooked suddenly upon strange and
striking scene.
The valley sloped nall sides down
ward to a little lake. in steps or ter
races of snow-white silica, which had
been deposited in the lapse of ages
by the waters of a score or moro OF
giant fountains, which at intervals
along the terraces threw up their
sparkling waters in the sun. Those
Boiling geysers-or as the natives
call them, puias-were the first in my
experience, and the beauty OF the
sight was kind which could never
have imagined. Vast, vet fairy-like,
these fountains of the Titans rose in
throngs impos sible tocount. because
their number every instant varied:
even as the eye rested upon one, the
get would sink into his crater, while
IN "A spot moment before vacant
another fountain was to be seen
dancing inmid air. From the crest OF
each a cloud OF white steam foated
slowly off in the still air. The
steam was white, but the water OF
the spouting columns was of the
deepest sapphire, which became pal
eT and yet paler azure as it cascaded
down the terraces and flowed into the
FAKE, over whose heated surface hung
a vail of faint blue mist.
The aravan came up, with my
companions. They shared my adj
zniration to the full; but. unlike my
self, they We're contented with a dis
t3nt view. We had had a firing
march since daybreak. and not a
man of them would volunteer to ioin
me ina climb into the valley in or
der to inspect the puias near 1T hand.
0n this, however, | had set my mind.
Ae We're to halt some hours upon
the spot for rest and dinner, as well
Us for some slight matters of repair
shout the wagon. Accordingly. when
the horses had been unbridled and
turned loose to Craze, and while our
native guides were busy splitting
wood to build a fire, cutting rashers
from a side OF bacon. and bringing
ont the kettle and the gridiron. /
started of alone into the valley.
Zoe distance to the nearest puia
was not over halt mile; but the de-
sent at first was steep and rugged,
and | made my way but slowly. As
soon, however, as reached the high
est oil the terraces, the nature of the
:ground completely changed. 1t was
now a crisp, baked surface, full OF
cracks and assures, from many oi
which spurted jets of steam. did
mot know the risk of walking heed.
Eessly upon this thin and treaeherous
crust, which is liable at any mo ment
TO give way beneath the travellers
foot and to let him plunge beyond
AcdelnpOiOu lutO some nOfflDle abyss
luckily, however, though 7 stepped
without the slightest caution,
'geached the puia without accident
beside it's spouting fountain.
The jet, which was about yard
In thickness and some 30 feet in
height, rushed with q tremendous
hiss, or ratherroaring, from its crater
on the summit of slightly elevated
mound, exactly like a miniature vol
acano, down tfs4 sides of which the
.overfowing water poured in torrents
to the lower terraces, and thence in
to the lake. | dipped my finger il
7the water, but withdrew it with a CRY
OF pain; twas absolutely boiling hot
AS CHANGED to stand to leeward o
gthe fountain, the cloud of steam
which drifted from it's summit wa
above my head and kept me in {
sdrizzling shower of rain. I felt {
lively curiosity to look down into
the crater, but this, while the jet wa
sspouting, was of course impossible
There was however, not hundred
yards away, another puia, which haC