’How I was praising and rejoicing in my heart as the dear boy was speaking:  “Yes, I am feeling calm again now.  When people die at Mota, you know they make a great shouting, but soon forget the dead person.  But I am able to be quiet and calm now, as you talk to me about God and Jesus Christ.  Yes, He rose again.  Death is not the end.  I know you said it is for those who repent and believe in Christ the Door to enter into life eternal.  How different it all seems then!”

’When you read this you will say, “Thank God that I sent him out to Melanesia with my blessing on his head.  I too may see Tagalana one day with Him who is the Father of us all.”

’One soul won to Christ, as I hope and believe, by His love and power, and if in any degree by my ministry, to God be the praise!’

The comfort sent home to the sisters with the letter respecting this voyage is:—­

’Mota:  June 14, 1861.

’Now, dear Joan, don’t any of you think too much about the murder of Mr. and Mrs. Gordon, as if my life was exposed to the same kind of risk.

’Certainly it is not endangered here.  It may be true that at places where I am not known some sudden outbreak may occur; but humanly speaking, there are not many places that as yet I am able to visit where I realise the fact of any danger being run.

’Yet it may happen that some poor fellow, who has a good cause to think ill of white men, or some mischievous badly disposed man, may let fly a random arrow or spear some day.

’If so, you will not so very much wonder, nor be so very greatly grieved.  Every clergyman runs at least as great a risk among the small-pox and fevers of town parishes.  Think of Uncle James in the cholera at Thorverton.’

So with the ‘Dunedin’ dismissed, Bishop Patteson, Mr. Pritt, Mr. Kerr, and their pupils recommenced their residence at Mota.  The Banks Islanders returned to their homes; and when the Bishop came to Aroa, Tagalana’s native place, three weeks lately the little fellow received him affectionately, cooked yams, fetched mats, and was not ashamed before his own people to kneel down, and join audibly in hymn and prayer.  The people begged for Wadrokala or some other teacher to be placed among them.  The Journal continues:—­

’On Friday, at 8.30, I started, not quite knowing whither I should go, but soon saw that I could fetch round the south end of Vanua Lava, which was well.  The sea, when it comes through the passage between Mota and Valua, is heavy, but the boat had great way on her, sailing very fast, so that I could steer her well, and we did not take very long crossing to the small reef islands.  I passed between Pakea and Vanua Lava (Dudley Passage), and then we had unexpectedly a very heavy sea, a strong tide up.  I did not like it, but, thank God, all went well.  One very heavy sea in particular I noticed, which broke some twenty yards ahead, and about the same distance