become dependent upon us.  The Paraguay Mission produced docile good-natured fags for the missionaries, but the natives had learnt no self-respect, manliness, nor positive strength of character.  They fought well, and showed pluck when the missionaries armed them, but they seem to have had no power of perpetuating their newly-learnt customs, without the continual guidance of the missionaries.  It may be that such supervision is necessary; but I do not think it is so, and I should be sorry to think it is so.’

As usual, the Mota climate told on the health of the party, there was general influenza, and the Bishop had a swelling under his left arm; but on Whitsunday the ‘Southern Cross,’ which had been to set down the Solomon Islanders, returned, and carried him off.  Vanua Lava was touched at, and a stone, carved by John Adams, put up at Fisher Young’s grave, which was found, as before, well kept in order.  Then the round of the New Hebrides was made; but new volunteers were refused, or told to wait ten moons, as it was an object to spend the first season in the new locality with tried scholars.

At ‘the grand island, miscalled Leper’s,’ the Bishop slept ashore for the first time, and so also at Whitsuntide.

At Espiritu Santo much friendliness was shown, and a man would not take a present Mr. Atkin offered, because he had nothing, to pay for it.  Santa Cruz, as usual, was disappointing, as, Mr. Atkin says, the only word in their mouths, the only thought in their heads, was ‘iron;’ they clamoured for this, and would not listen; moreover, their own pronunciation of their language was very indistinct, owing to their teeth being destroyed by the use of the betel-nut, so that they all spoke like a man with a hot potato in his mouth.

’So again we leave this fine island without any advance, as far as we can see, having been made.  I may live to think these islanders very wild, and their speech very difficult, yet I know no more of them now than I did years ago.  Yet I hope that some unforeseen means for “entering in among” them may be given some day.  Their time is to come, sooner or later, when He knows it to be the right time.’

Savo was then touched at; and the Bishop slept ashore at Florida, and left Mr. Brooke there to the hospitality of three old scholars for a few days, by way of making a beginning.  The observations on the plan show a strange sense of ageing at only forty:—­

’He speaks the language fairly; and his visit will, I hope, do good.  Of course he will be tired, and will enjoy the quiet of the schooner after it.  I know what that is pretty well, and it takes something to make one prefer the little vessel at sea to any kind of shore life.  However, he has youth and cheery spirits at command, and that makes life on an island.  A man whose tastes naturally are for books, &c., rather than for small talk, and who can’t take much interest in the very trifling matters that engage the attention of these poor fellows, such a man finds it very tiring indeed sometimes, when a merry bright good-natured fellow would amuse himself and the natives too.