s ashore with the other! There on the land
we were hauled up, and four weary days were spent fetching and carrying
from the Mission Station every plank, tool, and nail, necessary for her
repair. Every boat for these seas ought to be built of cedar wood and
copper-fastened, which is by far the most economical in the end. And all
houses should be built of wood which is as full as possible of gum or
resin, since the large white ants devour not only other soft woods, but
even Colonial blue gum-trees, the hard cocoanut, and window sashes,
chairs, and tables!

Glancing back on all these toils, I rejoice that such exhausting demands
are no longer made on our newly-arrived Missionaries. Houses, all ready
for being set up, are now brought down from the Colonies. Zinc roofs and
other improvements have been introduced. The Synod appoints a deputation
to accompany the young Missionary, and plant the house along with
himself at the Station committed to his care. Precious strength is thus
saved for higher uses; and not only property but life itself is
oftentimes preserved.

I will close this chapter with an incident which, though it came to our
knowledge only years afterwards, closely bears upon our Settlement on
Aniwa. At first we had no idea why they so determinedly refused us one
site, and fixed us to another of their own choice. But after the old
Chief Namakei became a Christian, he one day addressed the Aniwan people
in our hearing to this effect:--

"When Missi came we saw his boxes. We knew he had blankets and calico,
axes and knives, fish-hooks and all such things. We said, 'Don't drive
him off, else we will lose all these things. We will let him land. But
we will force him to live on the Sacred Plot. Our gods will kill him,
and we will divide all that he has amongst the men of Aniwa.' But Missi
built his house on our most sacred spot. He and his people lived there,
and the gods did not strike. He planted bananas there, and we said, 'Now
when they eat of these they will all drop down dead, as our fathers
assured us, if any one ate fruit from that ground, except only our
Sacred Men themselves.' These bananas ripened. They did eat them. We
kept watching for days and days, but no one died! Therefore what we say,
and what our fathers have said, is not true. Our gods cannot kill them.
Their Jehovah God is stronger than the gods of Aniwa."

I enforced old Namakei's appeal, telling them that, though they knew it
not, it was the