'My dear Uncle,--You will not give me credit for being a good
correspondent, I fear; but the truth is that I seldom find time to do
more than write long chatty letters to my dear father and sisters,
occasionally to Thorverton, and to Miss Neill and one or two others
to cheer them in their sickness and weariness. Any news from afar
may be a real relaxation.

'For myself I need only say that I find these dear people most
attractive and winning, that it is no effort to love them, that they
display all natural gifts in a remarkable way--good temper,
affection, gentleness, obedience, gratitude, &c., occasionally real
self-restraint. Dear Hirika's last words to me at San Cristoval
were, "Oh, I do love you so," and his conduct showed it. He is a
bright handsome lad, clever but inaccurate, of most sweet
disposition. In matters of personal cleanliness, healthy appearance,
&c., the change in seven months was that of a lad wholly savage
becoming neat, tidy in dress, and of gentlemanly appearance. In some
ways he was my pet of the whole party, though I have equally bright
hopes of Grariri, a sturdy, honest fellow with the best temper I
almost ever found among lads of sixteen anywhere, and Kerearua is the
most painstaking fellow of the lot; and a boy whose distinguishing
features it would be hard to describe; but he may be summed up as a
very good boy, and certainly a most loveable one. Sumaro and Kimarua
older and less interesting.

'I printed short catechisms, a translation of the Lord's Prayer,
Creed, General Confession, two or three other of the Common Prayer
prayers, and one or two short missionary prayers in the dialect of
both islands; but I can only speak at all fluently the language of