In the afternoon we had a heavy pull, rowing out to the Jubilee, and found her at anchor, the captain objecting to proceed that night, as the coral-patches make navigation dangerous in the dark. This delighted me, of course. So after some deliberation it was decided that we should row on to this place, Somo Somo, about four miles further, taking our food and bedding, as we were utterly uncertain where we should sleep, there being no teacher’s house there. But news of our coming preceded us, and on landing we were at once conducted to this very fine large house belonging to Tui Thakow. He himself is absent (supposed to be drunk at a neighbouring village), but Andi Luciana, the Fair Rosamond who at present fills the position of chief wife, and who is a daughter of Thakombau, did the honours with the innate dignity of her race. She is a fine handsome woman, with a very pleasant face. She is Andi Kuilla’s half-sister. Her first matrimonial venture was with Koroi Ramundra, at Bau—notwithstanding her sister’s warning, she having also tried him in the first instance, and found him unendurable. Andi Luciana rued the day too late, but the Vuni Valu came to the rescue, and divorced her, and then allowed her to come and be prime favourite in Tui Thakow’s harem. We went to call on Tui Thakow’s sister, Andi Eliza, a fine hearty old lady—the great pillar of the Wesleyan Church in this district. She cordially smelt all our hands, sniffing with especial devotion that of the newly-arrived missionary, a man who had never in his life been twenty miles from his own home in Cornwall, when he was appointed to the sole charge of this immense district, where there are vast arrears of lost ground to be made up. Fifty towns without any teacher at all! For some time there has been no one to undertake the charge of this district, and now the Society have sent out the only man they could get, but one who, certainly, is not very likely to impress these keen intelligent men; which is the more to be regretted, as they are so ready to give all honour to their white teacher and his message. This is a very pretty place, and after tea we strolled out again to see as much of it as we possibly could, first going through the village, and then exploring the valley behind us. We lingered a while beside the clear stream, resting under a large shaddock-tree, the whole air scented with its fragrant flowers, which are just like a very rich orange-blossom, and grow in large clusters. Then turning aside beneath the dark shadow of the bread-fruit trees, we sought the grave of Mr Cross—one of the two first missionaries who came to these stormy and blood-stained isles.