On Monday, the teachers’ goods and mission supplies were put on board the Bertha.  On Tuesday afternoon, after everything was on board, a farewell service was held with the teachers, and early on Wednesday morning we left Murray Island for New Guinea.  On Friday, we made New Guinea, off Yule Island, and about sunset on October 21st we anchored about five miles off Boera.  Near to the place where we anchored was a low swampy ground covered with mangrove.  We could see Lealea, where there has been so much sickness.  It presented the same low, swampy, unhealthy appearance.  Soon after we anchored a canoe came alongside with Mr. Lawes and Piri on board.  Mr. Lawes did not seem so strong as I remembered him eleven years ago, yet he looked better than I had expected to see him.  He has suffered greatly from the climate.  Piri is a strong, hearty fellow; the climate seems to have had little effect on him.  They remained some time on board, when they went ashore in the vessel’s boat—­Piri taking the teachers and their wives ashore with him.  The wind was ahead, and too strong for the canoe, so the men who came off in her with Mr. Lawes and Piri remained on board the Bertha till midnight, when the wind abated.  When the boat was leaving, they shouted to Mr. Lawes to tell us not to be afraid, as they would not steal anything.  They remained quietly on board till two a.m.

Mr. McFarlane and I went ashore in the morning.  The country looked bare and not at all inviting.  This is now the most western mission station on New Guinea proper.  Piri has a very comfortable house, with a plantation near to it.  The chapel, built principally by himself and wife, is small, but comfortable, and well suited for the climate.  The children meet in it for school.  The village has a very dirty, tumbledown appearance.

The widows of two teachers who died last year shortly after their arrival in the mission were living with Piri.  We took them on board, with their things, to accompany us to the new mission.  I returned ashore with the boat to fetch away the remainder of the things and teachers who were ashore, and when ready to return found the vessel too far off to fetch her, so, after pulling for some time, we up sail and away for Port Moresby.  Piri and his wife came with us in their large canoe.  We saw several dugongs on the way, which some esteem extra good food.  Tom, one of the Loyalty Island teachers, who was in the boat with us, expressed their edible qualities thus:  “You know, sir, pig, he good.”  “Yes, Tom, it is very good.”  “Ah, he no good; dugong, he much good.”  It must be good when a native pronounces it to be better than pork.