The other inhabitants of the island suffered long after the St. Barnabas scholars were free, and deaths continued.  It was impossible to enforce on such an undisciplined race the needful attention to cleanliness, or even care of the sick; the healthy were not kept apart, nor was the food properly prepared for the sick.  It was impossible to stir or convince the easy-going tropical nature, and there was no authority to enforce sanitary measures, so the fever smouldered on, taking first one, then another victim, and causing entire separation from St. Barnabas, except as far as the Bishop was concerned.

Meantime, a house was being put up to receive Mr. Palmer’s intended wife, the daughter of that Mr. Ashwell who had shared in the disastrous voyage when the ‘Southern Cross’ had been wrecked.  She had been brought up to Mission work, and was likely to be valuable among the young girls.  After this announcement, the Bishop continues:—­

’My mind is now made up to take the great step of ordaining dear George Sarawia, for nine years my pupil, and for the last three or four my friend and helper.  Codrington is only surprised that he is not ordained already.  Humanly speaking, there can be no doubt of his steadfastness.  He is, indeed, a thoroughly good conscientious man, humble without servility, friendly and at his ease without any forwardness, and he has a large share of good sense and clear judgment.  Moreover, he has long held a recognised position with all here and in New Zealand, and for the last two years the Mota people and the neighbouring islanders have quite regarded him as one whom they recognise as their leader and teacher, one of our own race, yet not like us—­different; he knows and does what we can’t do and don’t know.”

’They quite look upon him as free from all the difficulties which attend a man’s position as inheriting feuds, animosities, &c.  He goes anywhere; when the island may be in a disturbed state, no one would hurt him; he is no partisan in their eyes, a man of other habits and thoughts and character, a teacher of all.

’I think, oh! with such feelings of thankfulness and hope too, of the first Melanesian clergyman!  I should almost like to take him to Auckland, that the Bishop might ordain him; but he ought to be ordained here, in the presence of the Melanesians; and in the hasty confusion of the few weeks in New Zealand, George would be at a sad loss what to do, and the month of October is cold and raw.  But you may get this just in time to think of his Ordination, and how you will pray for him!  His wife Sara is a weakly body, but good, and she and I are, and always have been, great friends.  She has plenty of good sense.  Their one child, Simon, born in Norfolk Island some fourteen months ago, is a very nice-looking child, and healthy enough.