31701-0028-0003

3 XXX

up as soon as I went back) Before the service the old man handed me a native hymn book & Bible - I felt really honoured. Streams of young kekeni &
tatau (men) converged from the rows of huts; the sight was particularly colourful. The men with their clean white dabuas, & the women their vari-coloured ramis. The preacher quoted a hymn number & the chorus began. I'll confuss there wasn't many words I could understand but I knew their pronunciation well. I sang every hymn, much to their surprise, & became the cynosure of their attention. I wished I could have faded away
right then, as I'm sure I was embarrassing the preacher. Looking around occasionally I couldn't help but feel amused. The kekenis, with the expertness of a siren, began to pase [?]. As native beauty goes, they win, hands down, & were I an artist interested in Melanysians, I'd be interested.

After the service I used a little diplomacy, & was given the promise we'd be kept supplied with fish, fruits & wood. (very few natives like climbing the hill even when well paid)

Monday. Another eventful night has passed. The roof sagged & bellied like a pair of bellows, and it became necessary to anchor it to the floor with guy-ropes. This being the third successive