u here; you would have to endure what in England you
could not endure. There are minor trials many and often to be
encountered; some of which you will have learned from other letters of
the mission.

"The heathen around us are not to be trusted, and will occasionally lay
their hands upon something we need very much, and carry it off. Not
long ago the house of Mr. Thomas, on a neighbouring station, was
entered at night and robbed of almost all the wearing apparel it
contained. The entrance was effected silently, by cutting into the thin
reed and grass wall of the house; and nobody knew anything of the
matter till next morning. Then the signs shewed that the depredators
had been prepared to commit violence if resisted. I do not know--but I
am inclined to think such a thing would not happen in my house. I have
been enabled to gain the good will of the people very generally, by
kindness to the sick, &c.; and two or three of the most powerful chiefs
in this vicinity have declared themselves each formally my 'friend'--a
title of honour which I scrupulously give and take with them.
Nevertheless they are not to be relied upon. What of that? The eternal
God is our refuge! After all I come back into feeling how safe we are,
rather than how exposed.

"Yet all I have told you is true, and much more. Let no one come here
who does not love Christ well enough to suffer the loss of all things
for his sake, if necessary; for it may be demanded of him. He wants the
helmet of salvation on his head; but with that, it does not matter
where we are--glory to the Captain of our salvation! Fiji is very near
heaven, Eleanor; nearer than England; and if I dared, I would say, I
wish you were here;--but I do not dare. I do not know what is best. I
leave you to your own judgment of what you ought to do, and to that
better direction which will tell you. For me, I know that I shall not
want; not so but that I can find my supply; and soon I shall be where I
shall not want at all. Meanwhile every day is a glad day to me, for it
is given to my Lord; and Jesus is with me. The people hear the word
gladly, and with some fruit of it continually our hearts are cheered. I
would not be anywhere else than I am. My choice would be, if I had my
choice, to live and die in Fiji.

"I dare not trust myself to say the thoughts that come surging up for
utterance; it is wiser not. If my first note to you was presumptuous,
this at least is the writing of a calmer and w