’September 19th.—­Here we are becalmed; for three days we have scarcely made ten miles in the direction we want to go.  It is not prudent to go near the large island, unless we have a good breeze, and can get away from the fleets of canoes if we see reason for so doing.  We may have one hundred and fifty canoes around us, and perhaps sixty or eighty strong men on deck, as we had last year; and this year we have good reason for fearing that labour vessels have been here.  Many of the people here would distinguish between us and them; but it is quite uncertain, for we can’t talk to the people of the large island, and can’t therefore explain our object in so doing.  ’Yesterday, being becalmed, a large canoe, passing (for there was occasionally a light air from the north) from Nupani to Santa Cruz, came near us.  It could not get away, and the “Southern Cross” could not get near it.  So we went to it in the boat.  I can talk to these Nupani people, and we had a pleasant visit.  They knew my name directly, and were quite at ease the moment they were satisfied it was the Bishop.  They will advertise us, I dare say, and say a good word for us, and we gave them presents, &c.

’I shall be thankful if this visit ends favourably, and oh! how thankful if we obtain any lads.  It seems so sad to leave this fine people year after year in ignorance and darkness, but He knows and cares for them more than we do.  ’The sun is nearly vertical; thermometer 91°, and 88° at night; I am lazy, but not otherwise affected by it, and spend my day having some, about an hour’s, school, and in writing and reading.

’I think that the Education question has been more satisfactorily settled than I dared to hope a year ago.  A religious, as opposed to an irreligious education has been advisedly chosen by the country, and denominationalism (what a word!) as against secularism.  Well, that’s not much from a Christian country; but it isn’t the choice of an anti-Christian, or even of a country indifferent to Christianity.

’Mrs. Abraham and Pena have sent me Shairp’s little book on “Religion and Culture.”  It is capital; and if you knew the man you would not wonder at his writing such sensible, thoughtful books.  He is one of the most “loveable” beings I ever knew.  His good wholesome teaching is about the best antidote I have seen to much of the poison circulating about in magazines and alluring ignorant, unsound people with the specious name of philosophy.  And he is always fair, and credits his opponents with all that can possibly be imagined to extenuate the injury they are doing by their false and faithless teaching.’

Here the letter suddenly ceases.  No doubt this last sentence had given the last impulse towards addressing the old Balliol friend above named, now Principal of St. Andrew’s, in the following:—­

’"Southern Cross” Mission Schooner,

’In the Santa Cruz Group, S.W.  Pacific:  September 19.