120 TEE CRUISE OF THE ' GURAQOA.' 



Catholic missioiiiuy. I took tliein over the ship, of wliich 

 they noted tlie cleanliness and admired the machinery. The 

 first informed me that he had been for thirty years in the 

 Pacific, and tliat he had lived with Bishop Bataillon, the 

 actual bishop of the Samoan group, whom I had seen at 

 A[)ia. We cliatted a long while, and I heard them express 

 very decidedly their doubts of the natives being disposed to 

 accept as the King's successor the person he might nominate. 

 They seemed to think it was impossible to foresee what 

 would happen at the King's death. 



The Commodore and myself returned the visit of the 

 two missionaries. Tliey live at the village of Maofanga, 

 .situated at about one mile from the Kind's residence, and to 

 the east, on the seashore, in the midst of trees. They came 

 out to meet us as soon as we were in sight, and then showed 

 us their churcJi, which is a tolerable one, but very far fi'om 

 beuig as pretty or clean as that of their rivals the Wesleyan 

 mi.ssionaries. It is ornamented with a representation of the 

 nine stations, poorly enough executed. The bell is suspended 

 between two posts fixed in the cartli outside the church. 

 They then took us into their house, built at the bottom of a 

 large garden, and as poor in a[)pearance as in reality. We 

 remained half-au-hour chatting in a little dark room, wliile 

 a crowd of natives stood about tlie door to have a look at 

 us. The missionaries were much gratified by our visit, and 

 distributed cocoa-nuts among our boat's crew. They then 

 led us across the village, picturesquely situated under the 

 shade of trees, and called our attention to a ditch and em- 



