There are ten villages on the island, five of which we have visited.

After visiting the Keakaro and Aroma districts, our journeyings were nearly brought to a sudden termination.  When we got halfway between the point next to McFarlane Harbour, and Mailu, where there is a boat entrance, we saw the boat, and waved to them to approach.  They came near to the surf, but not near enough for us to get on board.  The native of Hula, from Maopa, got on board.  The Hula boy got on board early in the day, leaving us to go on alone.  I called out to them to proceed to the boat entrance at Mailu.  Great numbers of natives were with us; we saw, in the distance, numbers more sitting on the beach, and armed.  Some of those following us were armed.  When within two miles of where the boat was to await us, we came upon a crowd of men and women; the former carried spears, clubs, or pieces of hard wood, used in opening cocoa nuts; the women had clubs.  Some time before this, I said to the teacher and Loyalty islander, “Keep a good look-out; I fear there is mischief here.”  When we came upon the last group, I asked for a cocoanut in exchange for beads; the man was giving it to me, when a young man stepped forward and sent him back.  We hastened our steps, so as to get to the village, where the strangers from Mailukolo and Kapumari might help us.  The teacher heard them discussing as to the best place for the attack; and, not knowing that he knew what they said, he heard much that left no doubt in our minds that murder was meant.  I carried a satchel, which had beads and hoop-iron in it; they tried to get it.  I gave presents of beads; some were indignantly returned.  I was in front, between two men with clubs, who kept telling me I was a bad man.  I held their hands, and kept them so that they could not use their clubs.  The Loyalty islander had a fowling-piece—­thinking we might be away some days, and we might have to shoot our dinners.  They tried hard to get him to fire it off, and twice tried to wrest it from him.  They know what guns are, and with reason.  They tried to trip us; they jostled us.  On we went.

Two men, when near the village, came close up behind me with large wooden clubs, which were taken from them by two women, who ran off to the village.  Things looked black, and each of us prayed in silence to Him who rules over the heathen.  Soon a man came rushing along, seized the club, and took it from the man on my left, and threw it in the sea.  He tried to do the same with the one on my right; but he was too light a man, and did not succeed.  An old woman, when at the point, came out and asked them what they meant, and followed us, talking to them all the way, so dividing their thoughts.  An old chief, whom we saw on our way up, came hurriedly along to meet us, calling out, “Mine is the peace!  What have these foreigners done that you want to kill them?” He closed up to the teacher, and took him by the hand.  Another chief walked close