Piri has a very comfortable house, with a plantation
near to it. The chapel, built principally by himself and wife, is small,
but comfortable, and well suited for the climate. The children meet in
it for school. The village has a very dirty, tumbledown appearance.
The widows of two teachers who died last year shortly after their arrival
in the mission were living with Piri. We took them on board, with their
things, to accompany us to the new mission. I returned ashore with the
boat to fetch away the remainder of the things and teachers who were
ashore, and when ready to return found the vessel too far off to fetch
her, so, after pulling for some time, we up sail and away for Port
Moresby. Piri and his wife came with us in their large canoe. We saw
several dugongs on the way, which some esteem extra good food. Tom, one
of the Loyalty Island teachers, who was in the boat with us, expressed
their edible qualities thus: "You know, sir, pig, he good." "Yes, Tom,
it is very good." "Ah, he no good; dugong, he much good.
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