sed, and says it is impossible to cross over
unless we go up by Yule Island, and there he says it is dangerous,
because of the cannibals. In returning, I saw, for the first time in New
Guinea, a bush of the real South Sea Island _kava_ (_Piper methysticum_).

17_th_.--We have just had a service, and through Kena we have told the
natives the object of our coming and staying, that they might know of the
true God, and of Jesus Christ the Saviour. It was interesting to mark
the different expressions on their faces as they heard for the first time
of God--the God of love, and that as His servants we were here. When
told of the resurrection they looked at one another; some laughed, others
seemed serious. They were very particular in their inquiries as to the
name of the Great Spirit, and of His Son--forgetting, and returning to
hear it again.

18_th_.--Here we are at Uakinumu for another trip; but alas, alas! cannot
get carriers. The young men are all off wallaby-hunting, so we must
start. This evening, a woman came in with several bamboos of grubs,
which were cooked in the bamboos, then spread on leaves; some salt was
dissolved in the mouth and squirted over all, and it was amusing to see
the gusto with which men, women, and children partook. Oriope is very
persistent in wanting a teacher. He was greatly delighted when I gave
him a large knife; he examined it all over, then pressed it with tender
affection to his bosom. Fearing lest some friends who are with him at
present might ask it from him, he returned it to me, requesting me to
keep it until they left.

20_th_.--Last night, after turning in, I heard a peculiar noise, as of
some one in great distress, then loud speaking in a falsetto voice, and
knew then what was up--we had a spiritist in the village, and revelations
were now about to be made. We were all named, and the places we were to
visit. I felt somewhat anxious as to the revelation, for if it should be
the least doubtful as to our going, no native would stir with us.
However, the revelation, on being interpreted to us by Kena, was all
right; we were good men, and kind, and the villages would all willingly
receive us. The spirit dilated at length on the good qualities of
foreign tobacco and the badness of the native stuff, and wound up by
asking for some foreign. Oriope at once got up and gave from his own
stock what was wanted. These native spiritists are terrible nuisances;
they get whatever they