When the bishop had finished his story, I briefly recapitulated to him my own adventures, and we agreed that the conversion of the island must be our earliest task.  To begin with, we steered into the harbour, where a vast multitude of the natives were assembled in arms, and awaited our approach with a threatening demeanour.  Our landing was opposed, but a few well-directed volleys from a Gardiner gun (which did not jam) caused the hostile force to disperse, and we landed in great state.  Marching on the chief’s house, we were received with an abject submission that I had scarcely expected.  The people were absolutely cowed, more by the fulfilment of the prophecy, I think, than even by the execution done by our Gardiner machine gun.  At the bishop’s request, I delivered a harangue in the native tongue, declaring that we only required the British flag to be hoisted on the palace, and the immediate disendowment of the heathen church as in those parts established.  I was listened to in uneasy silence; but my demand for lodgings in the palace was acceded to; and, in a few hours, the bishop, with his wife and children, were sumptuously housed under the roof of the chief.  The ladies of the chief’s family showed great curiosity in watching and endeavouring to converse with our friends.  I was amused to see how soon the light-hearted islanders appeared to forget their troubles and apprehensions.  Doto, in particular, became quite devoted to the prelate’s elder daughter (the youngest of the bishop’s family was suffering from measles), and would never be out of her company.  Thus all seemed to fare merrily; presents were brought to us—­flowers, fruit, the feathers of rare birds, and ornaments of native gold were literally showered upon the ladies of the party.  The chief promised to call a meeting of his counsellors on the morrow, and all seemed going on well, when, alas! measles broke out in the palace.  The infant whom I had presented to Doto—­the infant whom I had found on the mountain side—­was the first sufferer.  Then Doto caught the disease herself, then her mother, then the chief.  In vain we attempted to nurse and tend them; in vain we expended the contents of the ship’s medicine chest on the invalids.  The malady having, as it were, an entirely new field to work upon, raged like the most awful pestilence.  Through all ranks of the people it spread like wild-fire; many died, none could be induced to take the most ordinary precautions.  The natives became, as it were, mad under the torments of fever and the burning heat of the unaccustomed malady; they rushed about, quite unclad, for the sake of the deceptive coolness, and hundreds of them cast themselves into the sea and into the river.