_Friday, September 24th._--Fine bright morning and a very hot day. Having failed to go to “Tahimamavi” yesterday I resolved to go instead this morning. We had a hot, but a most pleasant row up the coast about three miles, and found the people awaiting our arrival. They had been disappointed that we did not come yesterday, but supposed that the rain was the occasion of our failing in our promise. Such a nice number of bright boys assembled for school, and a great many grown-up people. The boys were divided into two classes, and two of the boys taught them their letters. The older men I undertook to teach myself with the help of Peter. I made a few remarks at first and then told Peter to say a few words. I was quite unprepared for what followed. It is not often I have seen such an effect on a native audience, and his flow of natural eloquence from beginning to end quite held the men enchained. With a great deal of energy, and a vast amount of earnestness, he went into the thick of his subject, and left an impression which I feel sure must, under God, have a good effect. At the end of his remarks he said very modestly, “You may perhaps think it presumptuous in me to stand here in your presence and speak like this, you who are old enough to be my fathers, and so high in rank all of you as to look upon me as a mere nonentity, and indeed I am amazed at my own audacity. But I speak about things of so momentous import that I take the chance of your displeasure, and submit myself to whatever verdict you may choose to return. Were I only concerned about things which belong to our heathen state, I should take the place of a humble listener and you should do the talking, but here all is different, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth must speak, and that heart and mouth, thank God, are mine.” There was not even an assent of approval, all were so impressed with the message delivered so eloquently by a mere boy. I said at the end, after a long pause, for I did not like to break the spell which seemed to hold them all, “Our son has spoken good words to you which I hope you will not soon forget.” And they all said, “Who can forget them?” I was also much pleased with the way the boys had got on with their reading after so few lessons, and altogether I felt that a “great door and effectual had been opened here,” for which I was most thankful to Almighty God. Now it remains but to put a good teacher there, and I think a wide harvest may by God’s blessing be soon gathered in. We came back with a fair wind in the afternoon, and in the evening again we had torrents of rain. However, we had our full complement at Prayers, and a very nice time afterwards.