ashore, and when ready to return found the vessel too far off to fetch
her, so, after pulling for some time, we up sail and away for Port
Moresby. Piri and his wife came with us in their large canoe. We saw
several dugongs on the way, which some esteem extra good food. Tom, one
of the Loyalty Island teachers, who was in the boat with us, expressed
their edible qualities thus: "You know, sir, pig, he good." "Yes, Tom,
it is very good." "Ah, he no good; dugong, he much good." It must be
good when a native pronounces it to be better than pork.

We arrived at Port Moresby about six o'clock. I cannot say I was much
charmed with the place, it had such a burnt-up, barren appearance. Close
to the village is a mangrove swamp, and the whole bay is enclosed with
high hills. At the back of the mission premises, and close to them, is a
large swampy place, which in wet weather is full of water. There can be
no doubt about Port Moresby being a very unhealthy place. We went ashore
for breakfast next day, and in the afternoon visited the school; about
forty children were present--an unusually large number. Many of the
children know the alphabet, and a few can spell words of two or three
letters. In walking through the village in the afternoon we saw the
women making their crockery pots, preparing for the men's return from the
Gulf, the next north-west season, with large quantities of sago. We
visited the graves of the teachers, which are kept in good order. They
are all enclosed by a good fence. Within the same enclosure is one
little grave that will bind New Guinea close to the hearts of Mr. and
Mrs. Lawes. Over them all may be written--"For Christ's sake."

In returning from the graves, we met a man in mourning, whose wife had
been killed in a canoe by natives about Round Head. He and his friends
had resolved to retaliate, but through the influence of the teachers they
did not do so. The teachers from the villages to the east of Port