Crawford, James Coutts, 1817-1889 :Frontispeice [sic]. Ruamata plains. Entrance to Whanganui Bush [ca 1880]

Shows a party of explorers camped by a rough wooden shelter in the left foreground, with a campfire burning. One figure approaches the group carrying a load of firewood on his back. In the centre distance Mt Ngauruhoe erupts. The left side shows the puia or hot springs on Mt Tongariro, and at the right is Mt Ruapehu with "snow in patches". A note beside Mt Ruapehu says "Southern peak is called Para te tai taonga - Shield from the South wind".

Puke Onaki is also marked.

Other Titles - Frontispiece

Extended Title - From his "Sketchbook of copies from originals by James Coutts Crawford" [1860-1880], page [2-3

A version of this image was reproduced by Fergusson & Mitchell, Dunedin. See E-296-q-012-1, "View of the great central volcanic chain from the Ruamata Plains at the entrance of the Whanganui Bush". Another version was used as a frontispiece for Crawford's "Recollections of travel in New Zealand and Australia ...", London, Trubner, 1880.

Another version of this image, in watercolour, is at A-229-046. Notes attached to the description of that images state: "The trip was in January / February 1862 and the Europeans depicted are Crawford himself and Samuel Deighton, and possibly "poor Biggs who was afterwards killed at Poverty Bay" (p. 134), since Crawford mentions that he joined Crawford and Deighton for part of the journey and there are three Europeans shown".

The original sketch was made around 1861-1862. However, the word "frontispeice" [sic] indicates that the idea may have already existed for this image being a frontispiece in Crawford's "Recollections of travel in New Zealand and Australia ...", London, Trubner, 1880. Therefore this copy may have been made around 1880.

Quantity: 1 drawing(s).

Physical Description: Ink drawing, on double spread, 145 x 470 mm