be the place where winter school would be carried on with natives
from many islands, from Solomon Islands group to the north-west, and
Santa Cruz group to north, New Hebrides to south and Loyalty Islands
south-west, and also the depot among the islands, a splendid harbour,
safe both from trade and hurricane winds, plenty of water, abundantly
supplied with provisions, being indeed like a hot-house, with its hot
springs constantly sending up clouds of vapour on the high hills, a
population wholly uninjured by intercourse with traders and whalers,
it being certain that our vessel was the first at all events that has
ever been seen by the eyes of any member of this generation on the
islands; I could prove this to you easily if I had time.

'They are most simple, gentle and docile, unwarlike, not cannibals, I
verily believe as good a specimen of the natural fallen man as can be
met with, wholly naked, yet with no sense of shame in consequence;
timid, yet soon learning to confide in one; intelligent, and gleaming
with plenty of spirit and fun. As the island, though 440 miles north
of the Loyalty Isles, is not to leeward of them, it would only take
us about eight days more to run down, and a week more to return to it
from New Zealand, than would be the case if we had our winter school
on one of the Loyalty Islands. So I hope now we may get a missionary
for Lifu, and so I may be free to spend all my time, when not in New
Zealand, at Vanua Lava. Temperature in winter something under 80° in
the shade, being in lat. 13° 45' 5". The only thing against Vanua
Lava is the fact that elephantiasis abounds among the natives, and
they say that the mortality is very considerable there, so it might
not be desirable to bring many lads to it from other islands; but the
neighbouring islands of Mota and Valua, and Uvaparapara are in sight
and are certainly healthy, and our buildings are not so substantial
as to cause much difficulty in shifting our quarters if necessary.