The ideas of distance, as described in miles, is vague indeed. Hearing of a native service to be held in a neighbouring valley, said to be only about two miles above the village where we had halted on the previous day, Mr Langham started after breakfast, intending to preach there. Knowing the valley to be of exceeding beauty, I purposed accompanying him, but some hints of the difficulty of the path happily made me change my purpose; knowing full well the extreme fatigue of even a short walk on these steep hill-paths, slipping and sliding in deep clay, a task not to be lightly undertaken beneath a burning noonday sun. It was evening ere the walkers returned, having never reached the village at all; for when, after two hours of hard exercise, crossing the stream thirteen times, and following a path so steep that it was suggestive of climbing up and down a well-soaped wall, they were told that they were about half-way, they deemed it well to give up the attempt, and so called a halt, resting awhile at a deserted village ere retracing the difficult way. From the hints Mr L. had received from some of the people, he deemed it advisable to carry a good revolver; for he mistrusted the young chief, and was rather startled when the latter was suddenly joined by four men carrying loaded muskets, and one with a heavy club, which seemed an unnecessary adjunct to attending a peaceful Christmas service. Whether there might have been real danger had they proceeded, it is impossible to say. As it was, no harm befell. In the course of the walk Mr Langham discovered that food was very scarce with these people, and that our friends of yesterday were sorely put to it for a Christmas dinner. Great was their satisfaction on being invited to send a canoe to bring back a share of what had been presented to our party; some of whom, however, could ill conceal their disgust at being called upon to resign so delicious a morsel as roast pig, to these hereditary foes. The practical working of the Christmas message of peace on earth and goodwill towards men, as exemplified by the privilege of feeding a hungering enemy, was one which they could not realise quite so quickly. Thus ends our Christmas Day in the heart of Viti Levu. And now it is high time to creep into my green plaid tent and sleep—so good night, and many a merry Christmas to you all!