’How few would say, “There’s a young man for the Bishop, only a second-class man, no scholar, not remarkable in any way, but he has learnt his work in a good school, and will go out to him with the purpose of seeing how he carries on the work, and learning from him.”  I don’t expect men worth anything to say this.  Of course I don’t; and yet you know, Joan, I can’t take them on any other terms.  No, I prefer taking promising lads here, and training them up, not with any pledge that I will employ them in the Mission, but with the promise of giving them every chance of becoming qualified for it.’

The voyage was much shorter than had been intended, and its history is best summed up here:—­

’"Southern Cross,” Kohimarama:  Aug. 6, 1863.

’My dear Cousin,—­This date, from this place, will surprise you.  We returned yesterday, after a short voyage of only three months.  I had arranged my plans for a long voyage, hoping to revisit all our known islands, and that more than once.  We sailed to Norfolk Island, thence at once to Mota.  I spent two days there, and left the Rev. L. Pritt in charge of the station; Mr. Palmer being with him and the four Norfolk Islanders, and several old scholars.

’I spent a fortnight in the Banks Archipelago, returning some scholars, and taking away others from divers islands; and then went back to Mota, bringing some sixteen or seventeen lads to the central school.  I found them all pretty well; the whole island at peace, people moving about everywhere unarmed, and a large school being gathered together.

’I went off again to the south (the New Hebrides group), returning scholars who had been in New Zealand, purchasing yams for axes and iron, &c., to supply the large number of scholars at Mota.  The season had been unfavourable, and the crop of yams in some islands had almost failed.  However, in another fortnight I was again at Mota with some six or seven tons of yams.  I found things lamentably changed.  A great mortality was going on, dysentery and great prostration of strength from severe influenza.

’But of those not actually boarding at the station, the state was very sad indeed.  About twenty-five adults were dead already, several of them regular attendants at school, of whom we were very hopeful.

’I spent two days and a half in going about the island, the wet incessant, the ground steaming and reeking with vegetable exhalations.  During those days twenty-seven adults died, fifty-two in all, and many, many more were dying, emaciated, coughing, fainting; no constitutional vigour of body, nor any mutton broth, or beef tea, or jellies, or chickens, or wine, &c.  Mr. Pritt did what he could, and more than I thought could have been done; but what could be done?  How could nourishing food be supplied to dozens of invalids living miles off, refusing to obey directions in a country which supplies no food to rally the strength of persons in illness?