The seed-stones,however,contained in the dark pulpy berry,are poisonous to man,and superinduce apoplectic symptoms.The berry (about the size of a small currant)is rather good,though (like all the New Zealand berries)insipid,and is quite harmless if the stones are not swallowed.Tutu grows chiefly on and in the neighbourhood of sandy river-beds,but occurs more or less all over the settlement,and causes considerable damage every year.Horses won't touch it.
As,then,my bullocks could not get tuted on being turned out empty,Iyarded them.The next day we made thirteen miles over the plains to the Waikitty (written Waikirikiri)or Selwyn.Still the same monotonous plains,the same interminable tussock,dotted with the same cabbage-trees.
On the morrow,ten more monotonous miles to the banks of the Rakaia.
This river is one of the largest in the province,second only to the Waitaki.It contains about as much water as the Rhone above Martigny,perhaps even more,but it rather resembles an Italian than a Swiss river.With due care,it is fordable in many places,though very rarely so when occupying a single channel.It is,however,seldom found in one stream,but flows,like the rest of these rivers,with alternate periods of rapid and comparatively smooth water every few yards.The place to look for a ford is just above a spit where the river forks into two or more branches;there is generally here a bar of shingle with shallow water,while immediately below,in each stream,there is a dangerous rapid.A very little practice and knowledge of each river will enable a man to detect a ford at a glance.These fords shift every fresh.In the Waimakiriri or Rangitata,they occur every quarter of a mile or less;in the Rakaia,you may go three or four miles for a good one.