The next morning the chief from the other side came to see me. He
received a present, and looked particularly sheepish when I tried to
explain to him that we did not like fighting. All day I took care to
show that I was very displeased at the loss of the saw, and by the
evening I was told that it had been taken by those on the other side; and
offers of returning it were made, but I saw I was expected to buy it from
them. I said, "No; I will not buy what was stolen from me; the saw must
be returned, and I will give an axe to the one who goes for it, and
fetches it to me."
The following day, Sunday, the 15th, we held the usual services under a
large tree near the mission house; a great many strangers present; the
latter were very troublesome. On Monday afternoon the saw was returned.
The _Mayri_ left us that day, to visit the teachers at East Cape. The
people are getting quieter. At present they are chiefly interested in
the sawing of the wood for the flooring of the house. They work
willingly for a piece of hoop-iron and a few beads, but cannot do much
continuously.
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