The _Bertha_ was anchored
fully two miles off. Kerepunu is a magnificent place, and its people are
very fine-looking. It is one large town of seven districts, with fine
houses, all arranged in streets, crotons and other plants growing about,
and cockatoos perching in front of nearly every house. One part of the
population plant, another fish, and the planters buy the fish with their
produce. Men, women, and children are all workers; they go to their
plantations in the morning and return to their homes in the evening, only
sick ones remaining at home; thus accounting for the number of scrofulous
people we saw going about when we first landed. They have a rule, to
which they strictly adhere all the year round, of working for two days
and resting the third.
The _Bertha_ arrived here on Friday evening. Mrs. Chalmers was at the
forenoon service on the Sunday, and found there a large congregation. The
service was held on the platform of one of the largest houses. Anedered
preached, a number sitting on the platform, others in the house, others
on the ground all round, and many at the doors of their own houses, where
they could hear all that was said.
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