Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1890-08-21

IN :" way along Tile
a ba n k s Of the
Nnlkota, in tire North Island of New
Zealand. It SO CHANGED that / had
ridden forward a 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
looked suddenly upon strange and
striking scene. n ~
Tie valley sloped on all 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 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, yet fairy like,
these fountains OF the Titans rose in
thrOngs impos sible to count. because
their number every instant varied;
even MS the eye rested upon one, the
Jet would sink into his crater, while
In a spot a moment before vacant
another fountain was to be seen
dancing in mid air. From the crest oI
each o cloud OF white steam floated
slowly off in the still air. The
steam was white, but the water oil
the spouting columns was of the
deepest sapphire, which became a pal
err and yet paler azure MS it cascaded
down the terraces and flowed into the
lake, over whose heated surface hung
q vail Of flint blue mist.
The c aravan came up, with my
companions. They shared my nd.
miration to the full; but, unlike my
self, they were contcnted with a dis
tant view. We had had a firing
march since daybreak, and not a
man Of them would volunteer to Join
me in a climb into the valley in or
der to inspect the puias near at hand.
On this, however, l had set my mind.
We were to halt some hours upon
the spot for rest and dinner, as well
as for some slight matters Of repair
abOutthe wagon, Accordingly, whe n
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
out the kettle and the gridiron, /
started off alone into the valley.
The distance to the nearest puia
was not over halt a mile; but the de.
sent ut first was steep and rugged,
aad made my way but slowly, Az
soon, however, as l reached the high.
est. OF the terraces, the nature of the
ground completely changed. 1t was
now u crisp, baked surface. full OF
cracks and assures, from many oil
which spurted jets of steam. did
not know the risk of walking heed
lessly upon this thin and treacherous
crust, which is liable at any mo ment
to give way beneath the travellers
foot and to let him plunge beyond
redemption into some horrible abyss.
Luckily, however, though ! stepped
without, the slightest caution, l
reached the puia without accident
beside it's spouting fountain.
The jet, which was about a yard
in thickness and some 20 feet in
height, rushed with a tremendous
hiss, or rather roaring, from its crater
on the summit of q slightly elevated
mound, exactly like a miniature vol
cano, down the sides of which the
overlooking water poured in torrents
to the lower terraces. and thence in
to the lake. dipped my finger in
the. water, but Withdrew it with q cry
OF pain: twas absolutely boiling hot.
As | CHANGED to stand to leeward oil
the fountain, the cloud of steam
which drifted from it's summit was
above my head and kept me in q
drizEiing shower of rain. / felt q
lively curiosity to look down into
the crater, but this, while tho jet was
epouting, was Of course impossible.
There was however, not q hundred
yards sway, another puia, which had