There are plantations and fruit-trees all round
the island.
On Monday, I accompanied Mr. McFarlane when he went ashore to make
arrangements to land his teachers and secure a house for them. The
people seemed pleased that some of our party would remain with them. Mr.
McFarlane at once chose a house on a point of land a good way from our
landing-place, and at the end of the most distant village. The owner was
willing to give up the house until the teachers could build one for
themselves, so it was at once taken and paid for. We came along to our
old friend's place near the landing, when we were told that the house
taken was a very bad one. In the first place, the position was
unhealthy; in the second, that was the point where their enemies from
Basilaki (Moresby Island) always landed when they came to fight, and the
people could not protect the teachers if so far off when their foes came.
All agreed in this, and a fine new house which had never been occupied
was offered and taken, the same price being paid for it as for the other
one.
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