The next few days were spent in great anxiety for Wailumai, a youth from Grera, who was taken ill immediately after dinner with a most distressing difficulty of breathing.  He proved to have a piece of sugar cane in his throat, which made every breath agony, and worked a small ulcer in the throat.  All through the worst Patteson held him in his arms, with his hand on his chest:  several times he seemed gone, and ammonia and sal volatile barely revived him.  His first words after he was partially relieved were, ’I am Bishop!  I am Patihana!’ meaning that he exchanged names with them, the strongest possible proof of affection in Melanesian eyes.  He still seemed at the point of death, and they made him say, ’God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost!  Jesus Christ, Son of God.’  At last a favourable change took place, but he continued so ill for several days that his two attendants never did more than lie down in their clothes; nor was it till the third day that he at length coughed up the piece of cane that had caused the mischief.  He still required so much care that Patteson did not go on shore at Norfolk Island when the five Pitcairners were exchanged for Mrs. Selwyn.

On November 15 Auckland harbour was again reached after this signally prosperous voyage.  It is thus summed up in a letter written two days later:—­

’November 17, 1857:  St. John’s College.

’My dear Miss Neill,—­Thanks for your £21. 2s., and more thanks still for your prayers and constant interest in this part of the world.  After nearly seventeen weeks at sea, we returned safely on Sunday morning the 15th, with thirty-three Melanesians, gathered from nine islands and speaking eight languages.  Plenty of work for me:  I can teach tolerably in three, and have a smattering of one or two more.

’One is the wife of a young man, John Cho, an old scholar baptized.  His half-brother is chief of Lifu Isle, a man of great influence.  The London Mission (Independents) are leaving all their islands unprovided with missionaries, and these people having been much more frequently visited by the Bishop than by the “John Williams,” turn to him for help.  By and by I will explain all this:  at present no time.

’We visited sixty-six islands and landed eighty-one times, wading, swimming, &c.; all most friendly and delightful; only two arrows shot at us, and only one went near—­so much for savages.  I wonder what people ought to call sandal-wood traders and slave-masters if they call my Melanesians savages.

’You will hear accounts of the voyage from Fanny.  I have a long journal going to my father, but I can’t make time to write at length any more.  I am up before five and not in bed before eleven, and you know I must be lazy sometimes.  It does me good.  Oh! how great a trial sickness would be to me!  In my health now all seems easy.  Were I circumstanced like you, how much I should no doubt repine and murmur.  God has given me hitherto a most merciful share of blessings, and my dear father’s cordial approbation of and consent to my proceedings is among the greatest....