27_th_.—­Maka poised a stick twelve feet long on his finger; the natives tried it and failed; again Maka did it, and all who were looking on came to the conclusion it was very easy for him to do, as a spirit held it for him.  In each place we have been, when at prayers, all the natives are most respectful, keeping perfect silence and bending their heads.  We had a fine tramp back to-day, and a refreshing bath in the Laroki after it.  We have paid our carriers, and they are rejoicing greatly.  We were glad to find our old friend and his wife well, and the things we left just as we hung them up.  They are very anxious to have teachers here.  We were telling them that we could see no people, and they have gone and brought in great crowds, saying, “No people! what are these?” I cut up tobacco and spread it out on a leaf in the centre of the crowd, and called out, “For Sogeri.”  One of their number was appointed by them, and he distributed it, all sitting quietly round.  I got some salt in a paper, and did as with the tobacco.  All rose, and in order approached, took some and retired, leaving the remainder, nearly half, for a very old man.  The beads I gave to the women, the men saying they ought to have had them too.  “Come and live with us; there is no place like Sogeri—­it is good, it is large, it is peaceful, and there is plenty of food.”  So say the Sogerians.  I was sitting on the ladder of the house, the crowd sitting round.  Rua was in the bush with his gun; he fired at a bird, and it was amusing to see the simultaneous jerk of the crowd when they heard the shot.

28_th_.—­Last night, a chief, Biaiori, of Eribagu, slept in the house with us, to be ready to lead us to his village and other villages about in the morning.  We started about half-past seven; but it was evident at the start he had been talked over during the night in quiet whisperings, so as not to take us anywhere but his own village.  We walked about a mile and a half, and came to his village, in a fine dry position, much preferable to the one we had left—­good houses, one house floored with cedar slabs, and having a fine verandah all round.  I wished to see a chief I had met yesterday, Jaroga, and was told he was at the next village, so we up with our bundles and away for about half a mile further on, to a nice clean village.  I at once asked Jaroga to lead us to the places he named yesterday; he was quite willing, and began pointing in the various directions, and naming the villages, but was soon silenced by signs and words from others; he then said he could not go; so we left to go to Epakari; a young man very much attached to Maka, and who has been with us for ten days, having promised yesterday to lead us there.  We had to carry our bags—­not a very agreeable job.  We had great excitement at leaving, our old chief insisting on our going back to Uakinumu; but we had discarded him, and were determined to find our own way should Someri, Maka’s friend, fail us.