A Momentous Interview

           ANunfathomablegulftwenty-fivemileslong,andtwentymilesbroadwasproduced,butlongbeforehistorictimes,bythefallinginofcavernsamongthetrachyticlavasofthecenteroftheisland.Andthesewatersfallingfromthesurroundingheightshavetakenpossessionofthisvastbasin.Thegulfhasbecomealake,butitisalsoanabyss,andnolead-linehasyetsoundeditsdepths.

           SuchisthewondrouslakeofTaupo,lying1,250feetabovethelevelofthesea,andinviewofanamphitheaterofmountains2,400feethigh.Onthewestarerockypeaksofgreatsize;onthenorthloftysummitsclothedwithlowtrees;ontheeastabroadbeachwitharoadtrack,andcoveredwithpumicestones,whichshimmerthroughtheleafyscreenofthebushes;onthesouthernsiderisevolcanicconesbehindaforestflat.SuchisthemajesticframethatinclosesthisvastsheetofwaterwhoseroaringtempestsrivalthecyclonesofOcean.

           Thewholeregionboilslikeanimmensecauldronhungoversubterraneanfires.Thegroundvibratesfromtheagitationofthecentralfurnace.Hotspringsfilterouteverywhere.Thecrustoftheearthcracksingreatriftslikeacake,tooquicklybaked.

           Aboutaquarterofamileoff,onacraggyspurofthemountainstooda"pah,"orMaorifortress.Theprisoners,whosefeetandhandswereliberated,werelandedonebyone,andconductedintoitbythewarriors.

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