220 A MISSION TO VITI. 



Protestant Church has unhappily been split, and all 

 Christians who are not Catholics never raise much ob- 

 jection to forming part of a congregation, the members 

 of which may more or less diifer from them in minor 

 points of discipline or doctrine. 



Leaving Eewa roads on the morning of the 10th of 

 September, we reached Port Kinnaird, Ovalau, on the 

 following day, where our little schooner was refitted, 

 and we made every preparation for another, my last, 

 cruise in the group. Mr. Pritchard's work, which even 

 in ordinary times was more than he could get through 

 without the greatest efforts, and sitting up late or even 

 whole nights, had accumulated to an alarming extent. 

 The clerks he engaged proved worse than useless, though 

 the pay which he could offer was three times what 

 they would have got in England. After my departure 

 he fortunately obtained the co-operation of Mr. Swan- 

 ston as vice-consul, who, shortly after his installation in 

 office, wrote me a letter, dated Levuka, July 9, 1861, a 

 passage of which I shall take the liberty to quote, as it 

 gives some insight into consular duties in this group : 



" There were urgent entreaties from missionaries and white 

 residents at Rewa, and all along the coast of Viti Levu, to Mr. 

 Pritchard, to visit them. Complaints from whites to windward 

 against Tonga movements generally ; and Mr. Henry complains 

 in particular against Maafu, and seeks consular intervention. 

 All this, etc., keeps Mr. Pritchard cruising about, and the office 

 drudgery falls on me, and I have more than I can attend to ; 

 to wit : 



" Naval court yesterday. Seamen complain against ' Caro- 

 line's ' going to sea unseaworthy. Merchants and others put 

 in claims against the master ; he drunk and disorderly on the 



