We are now in Nameanumu, in the Sogeri district, and in a fine house twelve feet from the ground.  We are about 1530 feet above sea-level.  Teachers here need have no difficulty about food; there is a great abundance all round of taro, banana, sugar-cane, and bread-fruit.  A teacher with some “go” in him, and a good earnest wife to help him, would do well here.  I am inclined to think an easier way here will be from Moumiri; but we have to travel with natives where they can take us with safety to themselves.  Sitting round the fire a little while ago, our spirit friend having just left us, an old woman shouted out to Oriope to look out, as the spirit was about to go through the thatch near to where he was sitting.  Instant search was made, but nothing found.  She then called out from her verandah that it had gone, as Rua and Maka were doing something with their guns.  I may say the old woman was with us last night, and heard my threat.  We have had the description here of some other animal that is in the Kupele and Moroka districts.  It is a dangerous one to go near, and several have lost their lives from it.

24_th_.—­Very heavy rain.  A number of people have come in from the villages to have a look at us, so I have to go through the process of baring arms and chest.  This forenoon they described an animal to us that I think must be the tiger—­a long animal, with a long tail and large paws, treads lightly when seeing its prey, and then bounds upon it, tearing the bowels out first.  They say they are as long as the house—­twelve feet.  We are not prepared to tackle such, customers.  Our host is a quiet man, with a very pleasing expression of countenance.  I like the people much, and pray God the day is near when they shall have the Gospel preached unto them, and receive it, and know it to be the power of God unto salvation.  Evil spirits reign over them, and the utterance of every rascally spiritist is thoroughly believed.

They seem very much attached to their children, and in their own peculiar way, I dare say, love their wives.  Husband and wife meeting after a separation is strange.  Some who returned with us had been away for a fortnight; their wives looked pleased when they saw them, so did the husbands; not a word was spoken, only a look; clubs and spears were put down, and the husbands went to where other men were sitting, the wives to light fires and cook food; when cooked, the wife took it to the husband, who ate a little, gave away some, and then went and sat by his wife.  I have noticed that the wives are particularly happy when preparing this return food.  Oriope’s wife, who accompanied us, is ill with a cold; I wished her to take a dose of chlorodyne, but she cried and hesitated much; the old man then took the cup and told her to look; he drank some of it, said it was not bad, and then pressed her to drink it off, which she did.