46
A RAMBLE THROUGH TAUPO.
who possess all these things. He who has gold or fame or power sometimes earnestly desires youth or health, but values too highly his own possessions to dream of wishing to change them.
Many men could never appreciate what they never get, but are contented with that which would never satisfy those of higher ambition. They never feel the need of aims and objects without which others would be miserable. It would be an entire waste of false sentiment to wish that every citizen might be a great military commander or a railroad king or a scholar learned in many languages. A large majority of American voters apparently consider themselves qualfied for the presidency, but probably two-thirds would be as anxious to relinquish that position, once obtained, as they were formerly eager to obtain it. On the other hand it is equally foolish to pity some of history's greatest characters because they have failed to enjoy the humdrum monotony of an ordinary existence. They were fitted for bold, earnest and sometimes tragic courses. Probably many whom the world believes to have lived sad lives enjoyed more happiness than many whose lives were more peaceful. Characters are so different that no standard of success or happiness can be applied. Some characters we instinctively place beyond the pale of criticism, almost of human sympathy.
But what shall be said of those lives which seem entirely destitute of any cheering circumstances.
"Be the day weary, or be the day long,
At length it ringeth to even song."
And, aside from creed or dogma, it is impossible not to believe that somewhere or somehow the unknown future has for them some compensation for past sorrow and pain and privation.
A RAMBLE THROUGH TAUPO.
Probably many of my readers have visited the beautiful terrace of Rotomahana, but the country about Lake Taupo, though less frequented by New Zealand tourists, who generally approach Rotomahana from Auckland, contains much that is interesting. About ten miles east of Lake Taupo is a township called Opepe. It is here that the traveller from Napier gets his first glimpse of the Taupo Moana, or inland sea of the Maories.
After a hot walk over a barren plain covered with deep pumice dust, my friend and I arrived at a Maori village on the shores of the lake. Here we first made our acquaintance with hot springs. On going for a drink to a tempting looking stream
flowing into the lake we found it qiute hot, while the lake itself was sensibly warm. The village was almost deserted by the natives, and we were enabled to make a close inspection of the place. We were particularly attracted by a handsome whare belonging to the chief Tahau. Above the door hung an image of Tokoahu—one of Tahau's ancestors, I suppose—a formidable looking savage with an axe in one hand and a meri in the other. The walls and roof of the house were of bulrush, painted inside with diamond and checker patterns, and the rafters and ridge-pole were also ornamentally painted.
Going along the shore of the lake we found a hot spring flowing into a basin cut