o see the water. On our
return to the shore, we went in search of a position for the mission
settlement, but could not get one far enough away from the swamp, so we
took the boat and sailed a mile or two nearer the Cape, where we found an
excellent position near a river. Mr. McFarlane obtained a fine new house
for the teachers, in which they are to remain till they get a house
built. We took all the teachers' goods ashore, which the natives helped
to carry to the house. One man, who considered himself well dressed,
kept near us all day. He had a pair of trousers, minus a leg: he
fastened the body of the trousers round his head, and let the leg fall
gracefully down his back.

On the following morning, two large canoes--twenty paddles in each--came
in from somewhere about Milne Bay. They remained for some time near the
shore, getting all the news they could about us from the shore-folk; then
the leader amongst them stood up and caught his nose, and pointed to his
stomach--we doing the same. The large canoes went ashore, and the chief
came off to us in a small one. We gave him a present, which greatly
pleased him. After breakfast, we went ashore to hold a service with the
teachers. We met under a large tree, near their house. About six
hundred natives were about us, and all round outside of the crowd were
men armed with spears and clubs. Mr. McFarlane preached. When the first
hymn was being sung, a number of women and children got up and ran into
the bush. The service was short; at its close we sat down and sang
hymns, which seemed to amuse them greatly. The painted and armed men
were not at all pleasant-looking fellows.

At two in the morning (Monday), we weighed anchor and returned to Moresby
Island. The wind was very light, and we had to anchor at the entrance to
Fortescue Straits. Next morning, we sailed through the Straits, and, on
coming out on the opposite side, we were glad to see the _Bertha_ beating
about there. By noon we were on board the _Bertha_, and off for South
Cape, the _Mayri_ going to Teste Island with a letter, telling the
captain of the _Ellengowan_ to follow us, and also to see if the teachers
were all right.

By evening we were well up to South Cape. The captain did not care to
get too near that night, and stood away till morning. About ten next
morning I accompanied the captain in the boat, to sound and look for
anchorage, which we found in twenty-two fathoms, near South-West