The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-08-25

HSSSS;sf SS% sSsSSS,'f coach was soon roll
tsss::SS:5az.ziSszSZzzfi ing out over tlse plains
0-----------lb betting the coast
and up the hills into
the woodlands on the mountains. In the
gorges of the timbered ranges I was intro
duced into the heanties Of Zealandian forest
/ The trees are evergreen, and never shed their
leaves, and resemble the American holies.
Tlis groves are green throughout the entire
year, and even when Winter SHOWS whiten the
earth the forests are dense with foliage
Ferns form fairyland Of vegetable beauty,
and their fragile froufs cover the hills WITH
hanaers Of emerald drapery. The intinIte
variety aud diversity of size and texture OF
the New Zealand ferns form growing bouquet
and present an attraction to the woodlands
not found IN any other part Of the earth. III
the depths Of the mountains. along the roaring
torrents, the fern trees 80 feet i'll hight, lit
their beautiful heads like palm trees over the
rushing streams Some of the kauri trees
attain enormous body, and tower like cedars
of Lebanon high into the heavens.
The kauri tree produces a gum clear as
honey, and largely used in the varnish OIL fine
furniture. Here and there we came in sight
of a native hut in the forest wilds. sending
out its smoke among the trees and loliing
aroui the doors were the stafwart forms of
the Maoris.
Again we would enter the deep corridors of
winding canyons. with their cliffs rising like
palisades overhead, and brawing riyulets pour
ing their cascades over the rocks. In the
sleeps Of the gerges nrotruded lodges OF the
celebrated New Zealand green stone used by
the natives for wands and gems. Nothing
but the roar of the torrents, the fall OF the
cataracts, and the sound of the wind breaks
the solitude of the mountains and the forests
are silent, as the birds here never sing. They
sit OH the limbs and admire their, beautIfui
plumage. The music which cheers the tourist
in the groves of other lands never gladdens the
woods of these southern islands.
BY noon We halted at 4 bark station on the
wayside and fed our horses, and OF plank
table partook of a dinner OF wild game, boiled
potatoes. and coffee. The woodsman had also
attended to his hooks and had some broied
fish on the plates.
The great trees lifted their noble trunks
aloft into the air and obscured the blues of the
sky, and the grottoes resembled caves carved in
the forests. Mounting cur stage we were
again speeding over the ranges and down the
gorges. Near the cfoss Of tile afternoon we
emerged from the woodlands and entered an
open plain. Below u.s. several miles in the
distance in the circular plains, like rounded
basin set among tire surrounding hills, lay
Lake Rotarva, with its green waters shining in
the sunlight.
The orb of day was setting behind the vest
eru ranges, aud threw its departing rays tn
shields Of light over the landscape, and the
surface Of the lake glearned like a mirror be-
tween its jntting shores. Far away i'll the
south tho great mountain chains stood like
sertinels of the sky guarding this mystic land,
aud over their lofty cones scared the snow.
covcr.I1 dome of Tougarriro Volcano, sending
its sniok aid flames into heaven.
Near the lakeside clustered village OF ma
| tive nuts, anil at q weatheTboarded inn our
coach drew NJ and discharged its passengers
aud mails. TneohoteFis is crowded with invaids
r. hal botx nf laka
cea for their ifls.E ~Rheumatics are hobbiiHsa
about OH Gr,Itctcs er2!:m ping around on sticks.
Some beve their knee-joiitts swollen to twice
their natural size: others have their fingers
| twisted into all sorts Of shapes, and the wreck
of the rheumatic blight of this damp and rainy
ciimate is soen in various types OF physical de-
iormitY.
The boiling waters of Lake Rotarna Is re-
ported an efticacious for this disease Of the
| Joints and Disorders Of the muscles. Marvel
Ions stories Of the restoration to health Of many
Of these sufferers are recorded by bathing III the
| boiling waters. Some with their limbs draWu
up like gourd handles, and their arms bent like
| shepherds crook, have, after some mon tlIs'
stay at this scaIding lake, had their bodies
Strengthened out like fshing-rods. and gone
| OH their way rejoicing in the emancipation
| from their aches.
| The patients tonight have collected into
| caucuses to swap their experiences, discuss
| their symptoms, and consider the origin and
| character Of their affections. Misery loves coni-
| pany, and these unfortunates find consolation
| in exchanging their agonies and hearing the
forbearance aud trials of their fellow-sufferers.
| The history, deceptions and miseres Of
their ills form the topics Of their thoughts, and
| engage the undivided attention of their minds
| Remedies, experiments and results are their
| other themes Of consideration l was eyed,
| first with surprise, then with suspicion, aud
| finally the location of my disturbances inquired
| after When it WAS discovered that was not
| a victim, | was dropped as subject Of no in-
terest. A man feels lonesome here unless he
| has the rheumatism. He will not find conge-
| nial society unless he narrate rheumatic
experiences, nor can lie expect to occupy atten-
tion or conduct discussions if he has not an
assortment of rheumatic "reminiscences. If he
/ can deliver lectures on that subject he will
| find constant and interested audiences.
Not finding my company appreciated nor my
| talents understood, l retired to my couch to
listen to the groans aud exciamations of my
| adjacent ncignbors. Remarks heard during the
| night were not suited for picnics, excursions nor
in demand for Sunday school entertainments.
But the hot, calm and peaceful bosom Of the
lake lay like sheet of glass, resting among its
| girdling hills, with the moonbeams pouring
down flood of silver on its slimmering waves.
| Here and there OH its placid waters from my
window could be seen the canoe of native
| gliding like dark arrow from the shadowy
shores, and soon the call of some boatman could
be heard on the waves.
The vapors rising from the boiling brooks
gushing from the lakeside rose in clouds of
steam and gave the lake the appearance of a
vast boiling cauldron.
Morning gave me the opportunity to inspect
the boiling akg.Is While the rheumatic brigade
ware soaking in their baths. swallowing their
tones. and rubbing with their brushes, en-
gagged boat aud rowed out on the steaming
lake. The waters near the shore are in violent
state ofebullition. aud boil iuriously. scalding
fountains issue from every crevice. The lake
is several miles in length and three miles in
width Tie bottom of tho lake is sseamed with
chasms; from the chasms issue boiling columns
of hot water
The lake is formed of currents of cold and
scalding waters Passing over the lake the
boatman can feel the different belts and teni-
perature Of the ,WateE and see the scaliiug eur
rents coming up froip the assures below. The
waters are supposed, TO be heated by the steam
generated froma thas fires of the adjacent vol
cano due ed
The bed Of Ratartaa rests in a basin of noun
tans over the subtsrranean flames of the burn.
ing crater Wheastie volcano is in high erup.
tion the assures send 'out greater and hotter
foun tains of water The shores are filled with
sulphur, and holes are ding in the ground neal
the lakeside for bathing pools for the invalids
The hot waters contain valuable medicinal
qualities, and the effects are so beneficial thai
Rotarna has become famous santaram TO,
the cities of New Zealand aud the Australian