178 TEE CRUISE OF THE ' GUBACJOA.' 



' Richmond, Kandavu, Fiji, 



' November 24, 1866. 



' Sir, — I write to inform you that the things whicli you 

 kindly sent for us, the boatmen of Mr. Nettleton, arrived safely, 

 and we have each received our share, for which we greatly 

 thank you. We rejoice greatly that you thought of us 

 kindly, and sent us things that will be very useful. We 

 rejoiced much on the day that Ave pulled the missionary to 

 Galoa, to see the man-of-war and its captain ; when we got 

 to the side of the .ship, we saw the great land guns and 

 admired them ; when we looked about we saw the officer 

 standing at the gangway, and we said : " Oh ! that one 

 would speak for us, that we might l^e allowed to look over 

 the vessel ! " Then I spoke to him, and he nodded his head, 

 so we then got on board, and looked over the hold, and saw 

 the men who were in great number, and very industrious at 

 their work ; we beheld them and respected them greatly. 

 Then we looked around us and saw the very sreat guns and 

 the swords in great number. We saw the chiefs of the ship 

 and reverenced them greatly. Then we went again on deck 

 and talked among ourselves and said : ' We young men of 

 this generation were born in blessed times to see such a ship 

 as this ; our fathers saw no such sight, we are liviug in 

 better times, and we are very thankful for it. 



' My letter is finished. 



' We send our love to you, sir, all of us, the boatmen. 



' I am 

 ' Thomas Nathemba, your friend. ' 



' To the chief of the man-of-war steamer, " Esk." ' 



