’This work of Mr. Atkin and Mr. Brooke in the easterly and more north-westerly parts of the Solomon Islands respectively, is the nearest approach that has yet been made to regular missionary operations there.  Our short visits in the “Southern Cross,” or my short three to ten days’ visits on shore are all useful as preparing the way for something more.  But it is the quiet, lengthened staying for some months among these islanders that gives opportunities for knowing them and their ways.  They do everything with endless talk and discussion about it; and it is only by living with, and moving about constantly among them, that any hold can be gained over them.  I think that the Mission is now in a more hopeful state than ever before in these islands.

’Our parties of scholars are large.  They trust quite little fellows with us, and for any length of time.  True, these little fellows cannot exercise any influence for years to come; but if we take young men or lads of sixteen or eighteen years old, it needs as many years to qualify them (with heathen habits to be unlearned, and with the quickness of apprehension of new teaching already gone) for being useful among their people as would suffice for the arrival of these young children at mature age.’

Three Tikopian giants had made a visit at Mota in the course of this year, attracted by the fame of the hospitality and fertility of the place.  George Sarawia had got on well with them, and tried to keep them to meet the Bishop, but one of them fell sick, and the others took him away.  This was hailed as a possible opening to those two curious isles, Oanuta and Tikopia, in so far as the ‘Southern Cross’ work was concerned.  The Bishop continues, to his former Primate:—­

’On the whole, things seem to be going on favourably.  The Banks Islanders are very shy now of the vessels sent to carry off men to Fiji or Queensland.  They will find their way into the Solomon Islands soon.  One, indeed, a cutter, has taken about twenty men from Ulava.  They were all kept under hatches.  We warn the people wherever we go.

’The pressing question now is how to supply our young men and women, married Christian couples, with proper occupations to prevent their acquiescing in an indolent, useless, selfish life.

’When their “education is finished,” they have no profession, no need to work to obtain a livelihood for themselves, wives, and children.  They can’t all be clergymen, nor all even teachers in such a sense as to make it a calling and occupation.

’Some wants they have—­houses fit for persons who like reading and writing, a table, a bench, a window becomes necessary.  Coral lime houses would be good for them.  They make and wear light clothing, they wash and cook on new principles, &c.; but these wants are soon supplied.  Only a practical sense of the duty of helping others to know what they have been taught will keep them from idleness and its consequences.  And how few of us, with no other safeguard against idleness, would be other than idle!