green umbrella of yours would do just as well."

Bastin vouchsafed no reply and sat for the rest of that evening
plunged in deep thought.

On the following morning he approached Marama and asked his
leave to teach the people about the gods. The chief readily
granted this, thinking, I believe, that he alluded to ourselves,
and orders were issued accordingly. They were to the effect that
Bastin was to be allowed to go everywhere unmolested and to talk
to whom he would about what he would, to which all must listen
with respect.

Thus he began his missionary career in Orofena, working at it,
good and earnest man that he was, in a way that excited even the
admiration of Bickley. He started a school for children, which
was held under a fine, spreading tree. These listened well, and
being of exceedingly quick intellect soon began to pick up the
elements of knowledge. But when he tried to persuade them to
clothe their little naked bodies his failure was complete,
although after much supplication some of the bigger girls did
arrive with a chaplet of flowers--round their necks!

Also he preached to the adults, and here again was very
successful in a way, especially after he became more familiar
with the language. They listened; to a certain extent they
understood; they argued and put to poor Bastin the most awful
questions such as the whole Bench of Bishops could not have
answered. Still he did answer them somehow, and they politely
accepted his interpretation of their theological riddles. I