ficiate for this Christian service. The priest came; the assembly sat
down; and the priest made a prayer, after this fashion as it has been
reported to me. _He_ did not then renounce heathenism, you understand.

"'Lord, Jehovah! here are thy people; they worship thee. I turn my back
on thee for the present, and am on another tack, worshipping another
god. But do thou bless these thy people; keep them from harm, and do
them good.'

"That was the beginning; and doubtless the Lord hearkened and heard it.
For awhile they went on as they had begun; then wanting something more,
they sent messengers to Tonga to beg for teachers. Now, as I said, the
people are nearly all Christians, and not in name only; and all the
children are brought to be taught. Here am I; don't you think I am in a
good place? But I am here only for a little while; more cannot be
spared to so small a population at this time.

"To get here, one has to shoot something such a gulf as I described to
you at Vulanga. The barrier reef has a small opening. At particular
times of tide a boat can go through; but with the rush of waves from
without, meeting the tremendous current from within, it is an exciting
business; somewhat dangerous as well as fearful. The ships cannot get
inside the barrier. The night I came, canoes came out to meet me,
bringing a present of yams as their contribution to our fund; they
brought as many as the vessel could find room for. In the canoe with
the Ono people I felt myself with friends; I had visited the place
before, and they knew me. The current made fearfully hard work for
them; but it was love's labour; they felt about me, I suppose,
something as the Galatians did towards Paul. The next day was Sunday. I
preached to an attentive congregation, and had a happy time. Now I will
give you a notion of my run of employments at the present time.

"First. Playing bookbinder. Fact. One has to play all sorts of things
here--and the more the better. My work was to stitch, fold, (fold
first) and cover, so many copies of the New Testament as I had brought
with me--printed, but in sheets. I did them strong! more than that I
will not answer for; but I wish I could send you a copy. It would be
only a curiosity in art, though; you could not read it. It is an
admirable translation in Fijian. As I have had but very slight previous
practice in bookbinding, my rate of progress was at first somewhat
slow; and after a few days of solitary labour I was