for cattle which
grazed on the extensive flats reaching inwards between the mountain
ranges and the undulating hills. The mountain sides were too rough and
scrubby for sheep as yet till fires had reduced the wild growth of small
brush and induced grass to spread.

The homestead being yet in its infancy, all was crude and rough, but its
surroundings were delightful. It stood on a small flat not yet denuded
of the original wild growth which lay in heaps half burnt, or in
scattered clumps, the cleared portions being partly ploughed up. The
flat was enclosed by a semicircle of steep hills covered with rocks and
brushwood in the wildest luxuriance, and almost impossible of passage
even to pedestrians. The stockyards lay away some distance, and they,
with the run generally, were approached by boats, of which three fine
ones lay hauled up in front of the homestead. Indeed, a great deal of
the work of the station was done by boat, including the fetching of
supplies, bringing timber from the forest and firewood from an island in
the lake, and visiting remote parts of the run only accessible inland by
a rough and circuitous cattle track impracticable for a dray.

Mr. Brand did not think much of Moorhouse's spec. He had seen the
country, but had not been on it, and did not think it good or extensive
enough to be worked alone. He offered not only to lend us a fine boat
for the remainder of the journey, but to accompany us himself to the
forest which was adjacent to our quest, having to convey some stores to
his men there. It was arranged that on the third day we would proceed
thither, and in the meantime I lent a hand at anything going on, and
amused myself sketching, an occupation I was very fond of, and I had
already collected a considerable number of views taken on the Rangitata
and other places.

We left in the afternoon, intending to camp about ten miles up. We
numbered five in all, and the boat was fairly well laden with stores for
the forest. The pull was a stiff one and we took no sail, the wind at
this season always blowing down the lake. It was some time after dark
when we reached our proposed camping place, a narrow strand of white
shingle sprinkled with clusters of shrubbery backed with thick
underwood, which afforded shelter and firewood. The boat was made fast,
and materials for supper and a huge fire were speedily under weigh. We
were much pestered here with weekas (woodhens) who carried off most of
our food whic