One thing which strikes us forcibly in all our dealings with these people is their exceeding honesty. Day after day our goods are exposed in the freest manner, more especially on Sundays, when for several hours not a creature remains in the house where we happen to be staying, which is left with every door wide open, and all our things lying about. Boxes and bags which are known to contain knives and cloth and all manner of tempting treasures, stand unlocked, and yet, though the village is invariably within a stone’s-throw, we have never lost the value of a pin’s head. I confess, however, it was some time before I could stifle all qualms of misgiving on seeing a crowd of what some people might call savages swoop down on our property and carry it off piecemeal to the boat or village, as the case might be; but when day after day passed and nothing was ever missing, I gradually acquired the implicit trust which has proved so well founded. Poor as these people are, their generosity is most remarkable, and they give freely of such things as they have, both to those among themselves who may be in need, and also for the spread of the Christian cause. Not only does each village support its own teacher, but considerable offerings for a general fund are made at the annual school examinations and “missionary meetings.” Nothing could be more distressing than to have nothing to give on such a day, so those who have no money will walk miles across the hills, bringing some treasured bowl or spear for sale; and great is the anxiety to receive payment in numerous small coins, that no member of the family may appear empty-handed on the great feast-day. Very often, however, it is to obtain a copy of the precious Fijian Testament that the household treasure is thus offered for sale; for already an immense number can read, and are as well instructed in Bible history and precepts as any Scotch peasant of the good old school. What a very tame scene a school examination at home will seem after those we have here witnessed, with the multitude of brown scholars, all so very attentive! Certainly we have no cause to complain of over-dressing or use of artificial flowers; but the usual wreaths of green, lilac, or yellow leaves, hanging in long fringes from waist and shoulders, figure largely, also those made of long narrow leaves of the screw-pine, gaily dyed red and yellow. At one place we found the scholars, old and young, of eight villages assembled to receive us. They began, as usual, by coming up in procession, and each depositing an offering at the feet of the missionary. This generally consists of one root of yam or _taro_, a bunch of tobacco-leaves, a sugar-cane, or a yangona root; but on this occasion some discriminating scholars brought old war-clubs and bowls, to say nothing of a pile of the fringe dresses aforesaid! Then followed a _méké_, which is a quaint national dance with accompaniment of singing.