A letter to Mr. Justice Coleridge was written in the interval between the voyages:—­

’Auckland:  June 12, 1857.

’My dear Uncle,—­You will not give me credit for being a good correspondent, I fear; but the truth is that I seldom find time to do more than write long chatty letters to my dear father and sisters, occasionally to Thorverton, and to Miss Neill and one or two others to cheer them in their sickness and weariness.  Any news from afar may be a real relaxation.

’For myself I need only say that I find these dear people most attractive and winning, that it is no effort to love them, that they display all natural gifts in a remarkable way—­good temper, affection, gentleness, obedience, gratitude, &c., occasionally real self-restraint.  Dear Hirika’s last words to me at San Cristoval were, “Oh, I do love you so,” and his conduct showed it.  He is a bright handsome lad, clever but inaccurate, of most sweet disposition.  In matters of personal cleanliness, healthy appearance, &c., the change in seven months was that of a lad wholly savage becoming neat, tidy in dress, and of gentlemanly appearance.  In some ways he was my pet of the whole party, though I have equally bright hopes of Grariri, a sturdy, honest fellow with the best temper I almost ever found among lads of sixteen anywhere, and Kerearua is the most painstaking fellow of the lot; and a boy whose distinguishing features it would be hard to describe; but he may be summed up as a very good boy, and certainly a most loveable one.  Sumaro and Kimarua older and less interesting.

’I printed short catechisms, a translation of the Lord’s Prayer, Creed, General Confession, two or three other of the Common Prayer prayers, and one or two short missionary prayers in the dialect of both islands; but I can only speak at all fluently the language of San Cristoval.

’Of the Nengone people I could say much more.  The two young women (married) and the two young unmarried men had been under Mr. Nihill’s instruction two or three years, baptized, and were regular communicants while at the College.  Simeona was baptized on the same day as his infant son, after he had been with us five months.  He and the other four were confirmed at the College chapel, and he afterwards received the Holy Communion with the rest.

’Kowine, a lad of seventeen, is not baptized, though well instructed.  We were not wholly satisfied about him.  Of the knowledge of them all I can speak with the utmost confidence.  They know more a great deal than most candidates for confirmation in a well-regulated English parish.  It was delightful to work with them.  We wrote Bible history, which has reached about fifty sheets in Ms. in small handwriting, bringing the history to the time of Joshua; very many questions and answers, and translated ninety pages of the Prayer Book, including Services for Infant and Adult Baptism, Catechism, Burial Service, &c.