news about Vanikoro had made them suspicious of visits from white
men. But they will be all right by next time....

'We saw a pleasant party at Bligh Island, brought away one young man
from that island, and two lads belonging to a neighbouring small
island called Eowa. The next day we watered on the north side of
Vanua Lava, and in the evening went across to Santa Maria. Here we
landed on the next day among two hundred or more people, shy and
noisy. We bought a few yams, and I detected some young fellows
stealing from our little heap I would not overlook this, but the
noticing it made them more suspicious that we meant to hurt them.
As the Bishop and I, after some twenty minutes, turned to rejoin the
boat, the whole crowd bolted like a shot right and left into the
bush. Evidently they must have had some trading crew tire a parting
shot in mere wantonness at them from their boat. I expected some
arrows to be shot at us; but they did not shoot any.

'The same evening (Saturday) we stood across the passage with a brisk
breeze, and took up our party, consisting of five and including
Sarawia and four others anciently noted as promising in
appearance....

'We reached Mota (Sugar Loaf Island) in time to leave me for a
night's visit to the people. I had time before the boat called next
day at noon to see five or six of their villages. People quite
accustomed to expect me--all most friendly, apparently pleased to be
told that I would stop with them in the winter. Seven scholars
joined us here....

'At Mai, I slept in the house of Petere and Laure. Things are