’G.  S.  “By-and-by it will be a large village, and many will wish to live there, and not from many parts of Mota only.”

’Well, I have told you, I suppose, of the fertility of this island, and how it is far more than sufficient to supply the wants of the people.  Food is wasted on all sides.  This very day I have plucked ten large bread-fruits, and might have plucked forty now nearly ripe, simply that the bats may not get them.  I gave them away, as I can’t eat more than a third part of one at a meal.

’So I went with George on Saturday, and we chose such a beautiful property, between Veverao and Maligo, I dare say about ten acres.  Then I spoke to the people here, explaining my wishes and motives.  To-day we have been over it with a large party, that all might be done publicly and everybody might hear and know.  The land belongs to sixteen different owners; the cocoa-nut trees, breadfruit, almond, and other fruit-trees are bought separately.

’They all agree; indeed, as they have abundance of space of spare land just as good all about, and they will get a good stock of hatchets, pigs, &c., from me, for this land, there is not much doubt about that.  But it is pleasant to hear some of them say, “No, no, that is mine and my son’s, and he is your boy.  You can have that for nothing.”

’I shan’t take it; it is safer to buy, but it is pleasant to see the kind feeling.

’If it be God’s will to prosper this undertaking, we should begin next year with about fifteen of our own scholars, and a goodly number of half-scholars, viz., those who are now our regular scholars here, but have not been taken to New Zealand.

’Fencing, clearing, &c., could go on rapidly.  Many would help, and small payments of beads and fish-hooks can always secure a man’s services.

’I should build the houses with the material of the island, save only windows, but adopt of course a different shape and style for them.  The idea would be to have everything native fashion, but improved, so as to be clearly suitable for the wants of people sufficiently civilised.  All that a Christian finds helpful and expedient we ought to have, but to adopt English notions and habits would defeat my object.  The people could not adopt them, there would be no teaching for them.  I want to be able to say:  “Well, you see, there is nothing to prevent you from having this and that, and your doing this and that.”

’We must have some simple rules about cleanliness, working hours, &c., but all that is already familiar to those who have been with us at Kohimarama and Norfolk Island.  Above all, I rejoice in the thought that the people understand that very soon this plan is to be worked by George Sarawia.  He is to be the, so to say, head of the Christian village.  I shall be a kind of Visitor.  Palmer will, of course, be wanted at first, but must avoid the fault of letting the people, our own pupils as well as others,