nabas' College; and for the rest of his brief life his time was spent in its organisation and development, and in his usual summer cruises among the isles. The progress made was astonishing, and the more astonishing because it was not superficial, but real. Bishop Patteson never asked for immediate results; he knew that the seed, if it were to ripen effectually, must go through a certain process of germination, and he waited patiently until GOD's sunshine in due time gave the harvest. But while he waited, he watched, and was careful to clear away any obstacle that could retard a healthy growth. There were trials, however, external trials, which not all his patience and vigilance could abate; chiefly those arising from the cruel dealings of the so-called "labour-ships," whose kidnapping atrocities provoked among the islands an ever-increasing feeling of hatred against the "white men." Another serious check to his happy labours was a severe illness in the early spring of 1870, from which he never entirely recovered. That summer the "Southern Cross" went on her annual cruise without her Bishop; but later in the year he was able to visit Mota, the Solomon Islands, and the Santa Cruz cluster, where he landed at Nukapu. In October he was back at S. Barnabas' College.

But I must draw this sketch to a close. After a seven weeks' sojourn at Mota, in the summer of 1871, the Bishop steered his missionary bark to the Solomon Islands, meeting with some sad evidences of the mischief wrought by the labour traffic. Writing to one of his friends, he says:— "The deportation of natives is going on to a very great extent here, as in the New Hebrides and Banks Islands. Means of all kinds are employed: sinking canoes and capturing the natives, enticing men on board, and getting them below, and then securing hatches and imprisoning them. Natives are retaliating. Lately, two Lately, two or three vessels have been taken and all hands killed, besides boats' crews shot at continually. A man called on me at Mota the other day, who said that five out of seven in the boat were struck by arrows a few days before. The arrows were not poisoned, but one man was very ill. It makes even our work rather hazardous, except where we are thoroughly well known. I hear that a vessel has gone to Santa Cruz,

and I must be very cautious there, for there has been some disturbance almost to a certainty."

On the 16th of September, the "Southern Cross" was off the Santa Cruz group, some twenty miles distant. For three days she lay becalmed, making scarcely any progress; but on the 20th, a light breeze carried her towards Nukapu, where four canoes, filled with natives, were seen hovering about its white circling reef. At half-past eleven in the morning, the Bishop ordered the boat to be lowered, and entered it with Mr. Atkin, his faithful and devoted assistant, Stephen Taroniara, James Minipa, and John Nonono. He pulled towards the canoes, whose crews immediately recognised him, and when he offered to go on shore, signified their assent. When nearer the reef, he was met by two more canoes, making six in all. The islanders were anxious that the boat should be hauled up on the reef, the tide being too low for her to cross it: and when this was declined, the men offered to take the Bishop into their canoe. To disarm suspicion and gain their entire confidence, he at once complied. Mr. Atkin afterwards said he thought he caught the word "Tabu," as if in warning, and saw a basket with yams and other fruits presented and it is said this is a Polynesian stratagem, with the object of inducing an intended victim to touch the tabued object, that it may be lawful to kill him.

A delay of about twenty minutes occurred: after which two canoes went with the one containing the Bishop, these canoes being guided by chiefs who had hitherto been friendly to him. The tide was so low that it was necessary to wade over the reef, and drag the canoes to the inner lagoon. The boat's crew were unable to follow; but their straining gaze watched the Bishop to the beach, when he disappeared.

For about half an hour the boat drifted to and fro in company with the canoes; then, suddenly, at about ten yards off, without any warning, a man stood up in one of them, and exclaiming:-"Have you anything like this?" discharged an arrow; whereupon the natives in the other canoes let loose volley after volley, calling out, as they aimed :-"This for New Zealand man! This for Bauro man! This for Mota man!" With lusty pulls the boat was backed out of range, but not

before three out of the four oarsmen had been struck; John on the head, Mr. Atkin in the shoulder, and Stephen with six arrows in the chest and shoulders.

They contrived to reach the ship, and were helped on board. No sooner was the arrow-head removed from Mr. Atkin's shoulder than he insisted on returning to find his Bishop, nor could he be dispensed with, as he alone knew the passage across the reef when the tide had risen. Accompanied by Joseph Watè, Charles Sapinamba, a sailor, and Mr. Bongarde, the mate, he pushed off; and as soon as the water was high enough, dashed across the reef. Two canoes came out to meet him; one cast off the other, and went back; that other with something lying motionless in the middle, drifted towards the boat. When the mission party came up with it, they lifted out of it a bundle wrapped in matting, and as they did so, the natives on the shore raised a loud cry. The bundle was the Bishop's dead body rolled in a native mat, which was secured at the head and feet. "The placid smile was still on his face; there was a palm leaf fastened over the breast, and when the mat was opened there were five wounds, no more." One, given with a club, and probably the first, had crushed in the skull at the back, causing instant death; another was on the top of the head, which had been cloven by some sharp weapon; the body was also pierced; and two arrow-thrusts were visible in the legs. In the front of the cocoa-nut palm were five knots made in the long leaflet, indicating that the good Bishop had been murdered in revenge for five kidnapped

natives.

Next day, the Feast of S. Matthew, the body of Bishop Patteson was committed to the deep. He was forty-four years and a half old at the time of his death.1

He was not the only victim. Joseph Atkin died of his wound on the morning of the 27th: Stephen Taroniara, on the morning of

the 28th.

1

INDEX.