After dark, Miria came in. He felt
sorry when I told him I could not put a house up in his place, owing to
its being exposed to south-east wind, and to there not being many people.
"But I have cut the wood." "I shall pay you for that, and the wood can
remain for my return." I gave him tobacco for the young men and a
present to himself, and all was right.
A few mornings later, I found the natives sitting round rice; one said,
"Come, we are waiting for you to bless the food." They have seen our
boats' crews of Botu and Boera natives always asking a blessing. I said
to them, "Cannot one of you ask a blessing?"
"No; wait until we learn, and you will see." A good story is told by the
captain of the _Mayri_. Oa their going to Aroma to relieve the teachers
after the Kalo massacre, in the early morning they were pulling along the
reef, and just as the sun appeared over the mountains, one of the Motu
crew called on all to be quiet, rowers to lean on their oars, and then
engaged in prayer, thanking God for watching over them during the night,
and praying that He would care for them during the day, and that no
unpleasantness might occur with the Aroma natives.
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