’July 21st.—­At anchor, Lakona, west side of Santa Maria.  Pleasant to be quietly at anchor on our old “shooting ground.”  We anchored for a day and a night at Ambrym, near the east point, very safe and comfortable place.  Nine lads from five villages are on board.  I bought about three and a half tons of yams there.  Anchored again at the end of Whitsuntide, where I am thankful to say we have at last received two lads, one a very pleasant-looking fellow.  That sad year of the dysentery, 1862, when Tanau died and Tarivai was so ill, two out of only three scholars from the island, made them always unwilling to give up lads.

’Next day at Leper’s Island.  Anchored a night off Wehurigi, the east end of the high land, the centre part of the island.

’Bice was quite feted by the people.  We brought away three old and twelve new scholars, refusing the unpromising old scholars.  There is, I hope, a sufficient opening now at Ambrym and Leper’s Island to justify my assigning these islands to Jackson and Bice respectively.

’Our plan now is to take very few people indeed from the Banks Islands to Norfolk Island, as they have a permanent school and resident clergyman at Mota.  The lads who may turn out clever and competent teachers are taken to Norfolk Island, none others.

’We must take our large parties from islands where there is as yet no permanent teacher:  Ambrym, Leper’s Island, the Solomon Islands.

’Meanwhile the traders are infesting these islands, as Captain Jacobs says, “like mosquitoes.”  Three vessels anchored at Mai during the day I was there.  Three different vessels were at Ambrym.  To-day I saw four, three anchored together near the north-east side of Santa Maria.  B——­ saw six yesterday.

’The people now refuse to go in them, they are much exasperated at their people being kept away so long.  Sad scenes are occurring.  Several white men have been killed, boats’ crews cut off, vessels wrecked,

’We shall hear more of such doings; and really I can’t blame the islanders.  They are perfectly friendly to friends; though there is much suspicion shown even towards us, where we are not well known.

’As far as I can speak of my own plans, I hope to stay at Mota for a time, till the “Southern Cross” returns from Norfolk Island; then go to the Solomon Islands; return by way of Santa Cruz and probably Tikopia, to Mota; thence to Norfolk Island; thence probably to New Zealand, to take the steamer for Fiji.  We have no chart on board of Fiji; and I don’t think it right to run the risk of getting somehow to Levuka with only the general chart of the South Pacific, so I must go, as I think, to New Zealand, and either take the steamer or procure charts, and perhaps take Mr. Tilly as pilot.  I don’t like it; it will be very cold; but then I shall (D.V.) see our dear Taurarua friends, the good Bishop and others, and get advice about my Fiji movements.  The Church of England folk there regard me as their Bishop, I understand; and the Bishops of Sydney and Melbourne assume this to be the fitting course.  A really able energetic man might do much there, and, in five years, would be Bishop of Levuka.