Thursday, October 21st.—Busy here all the morning, and having got very hot and tired with what I was doing, I came to get my towel to go for a bathe, when lo and behold, down came the rain in a perfect torrent, and I had to swallow my disappointment and stay at home. However, I started again at my picture gallery, and got a good deal done. I must try and finish it at some future time. It is a source of immense diversion to not a few, and some of the boys are never tired of coming to find out what the pictures mean. I was not very well all day, and after the Catechumen Class was very glad to retire for the night.
Friday, October 22nd.—Was very sick all the morning, and went to Ruosi to try and drown my cares in the river, but was only partially successful. Came back appetiteless to an uninviting dinner, and did not feel equal to much during the evening.
Saturday, October 23rd.—Very busy all day with preparations for to-morrow. Anthony came to make final arrangements about his Candidates. Determined to go to “Naruru” for the ceremony. Was not well all day, and everything seemed a business. Final class with Catechumens.
Sunday, October 24th.—A very full but an exceptionally joyous day. We had school before breakfast, but that meal followed directly after. Then came Mattins. Then, followed by all the male population of Tanrig, I went to Naruru. The house there being very small I determined to have the Baptism out of doors. I would have gone to the river-side but it was too far. While Anthony and the others were getting ready the place and the Font, I said a few final words to the Candidates, who were already well prepared. Anthony’s wife was among the number, and a fine, intelligent young woman she is. There were nine Candidates in all, and the service was a very solemn and impressive one. It was the first time I had ever Baptized anyone in the open air, but a great deal of solemnity was not lost by it. The whole service went very nicely, and I hope the Candidates were fully alive to the importance and dignity of the occasion. When it was over I said a few words to the Congregation and Baptized, and soon after we hastened home, having another Baptism at Tanrig. During my absence A. P. Huqe had made a most chastely pretty Font, and brightened up the Church with flowers, &c., until it looked quite charming. The Baptism took place in the evening, and seeing that there were as many as twenty-eight Candidates it was not a short service. It passed off very nicely, and I think made a great impression. I preached afterwards, and told them that this would be my final Baptism for some time to come, and urged them all to remember their Baptismal vows and to try and live more and more up to them, by the grace of God. Tanrig is now a Christian village, and the number Baptized here is considerably over a hundred. There are suburbs, however, which are still lying in comparative heathen darkness, and these we shall now have time, please God, to attack. There is much rejoicing here to-day, and a fresh start has again been made. I have Baptized thirty-seven people to-day, and I thank God and take courage.
Monday, October 25th.—General holiday, and great Christening Feast at Ruosi. All the world turned out from here, and we were joined by many from Naruru. Four large pigs were slaughtered, and a prodigious quantity of yams and taro prepared. It was a most lovely day, and the sunshine overhead seemed to have found its way into every heart, for there was the greatest harmony and good will manifest on all sides. Men and women shared the burden of the day alike, and the result in the evening was a most grand spread of perfectly cooked food, more than sufficient for all the great number present. All shared alike, and the females had great junks of pork as well as the men. Formerly the women ate very little animal food, but now Christianity has broken down the middle wall of partition, and taught them that all are One in Christ. We came home in the evening, and dinnerless I had to go to bed with an attack of ague which lasted me far on into the hours of midnight. I did not go to Prayers, and indeed I don’t know what happened. There was a dance, I believe, but I didn’t hear anything of it.
Tuesday, October 26th.—Very weak and seedy all day—did not go out anywhere. However, I had lots of little things to do here at home, and I busied myself over them. Visitors from Uta came in the evening. The people told me they wanted to take away one of our women whose husband is just dead, but I refused and told them they had women enough already. They were very frightened I believe, and I don’t care, I trust they were, for I meant what I said. They are quite enough as they are to live and die in heathen darkness, while here the poor woman will have a chance at all events of hearing and living.
Wednesday, October 27th.—Beautiful day, but I was not particularly well to enjoy it. I was up betimes though, and got through our morning duties before breakfast.
Perhaps this is not a wise plan, but it is more convenient and therefore I submit to it. You certainly get leisure and quiet afterwards, which one would fail to secure previously to Prayers and school. I like to give the people every opportunity of getting away early to their gardens, and therefore, perhaps, I sacrifice myself. Many people could not stand this going without breakfast so long, but it is a meal I was never very hearty at, and the want of which very strangely I feel the least.
Our “Bush” friends brought down some prints for sale this morning, and there has been a tremendous competition for them. There were six yards of Turkey red handkerchief stuff, which were finally bought by a young married lady, “Ann,” for a large pig. The Bushmen still go “clothesless,” and returned Labourers find a ready market here for their linen goods, which they bring home from Queensland or Fiji. Pigs are of much more value to them, for of course they still keep up the old native custom of purchasing rank by means of these animals, while here now they are only looked upon as so much meat. I have been long trying to get a proper hold on these people, but I cannot flatter myself that I have yet succeeded very far. They live a long distance off, and the road is very inaccessible, but I trust in time they may be reached from hence. They are very amiable and very friendly, but they are somewhat terrified at anything new. However, they come here very often, and I don’t think they go away unprofited.
Thursday, October 28th.—Fine day with strong fresh Trade wind blowing. I was busy all day here at home doing little odds and ends of things preparatory to my anticipated visit from Mrs. Selwyn. The people were all away busy at their gardens, and I was left alone most of the day. I could not find time to get to Ruosi, so I went without my customary dip in the river.