170 NEW SOUTH WALES. 



from the citizens. Our reception was gratifying in the extreme, and 

 cannot be too highly appreciated. The Australian Club* was thrown 

 open to us by its committee, and parties, balls, &c, were given in 

 our honour ; in short, all our leisure time was fully occupied in the 

 receipt of these hospitable attentions. 



The day after we anchored at Sydney, the brig Camden also 

 arrived. By her we learnt the melancholy intelligence of the death 

 of the Rev. Mr. Williams, from whom we had parted so short a time 

 before at the Samoan Group. He was then, as will be recollected, 

 about setting forth to propagate the gospel among the savages of the 

 New Hebrides, and was in full health and high spirits, in the ai'dent 

 hope of success in his mission. My information in respect to this 

 sad event, was derived from his associate, Mr. Cunningham. They 

 had placed native missionaries at Rotuma and Totoona. Mr. Wil- 

 liams then landed at Tanna, which they found in a high state of 

 cultivation, and where they were hospitably received by the natives. 

 These were Papuans, and spoke a language much like that of the 

 Hervey Islanders. At Tanna, Samoan missionaries were also left. 

 and they thence proceeded to Erromango. Here they found a barren 

 country and a different race of men, black, with woolly hair, who did 

 not comprehend a word of any of the languages known to the mis- 

 sionaries. 



The natives, although apparently suspicious, exhibited no symp- 

 toms of actual hostility. Mr. Williams, with Mr. Harris, Mr. 

 Cunningham, and the master of the vessel, landed, and were strolling 

 about, amusing themselves with picking up shells. While thus 

 engaged, they had separated from each other, and Messrs. Harris and 

 Williams were in advance of the others. On a sudden the war-shout 

 was heard, and Mr. Harris was seen running, pursued by a crowd of 

 natives. He was soon overtaken by them, and killed. Mr. Williams 

 then turned and endeavoured to reach the boat, but he had delayed 

 too long, and although he reached the water, he was followed into it 

 and slain also. 



Mr. Cunningham and the captain escaped, although with difficulty, 

 and after some fruitless attempts to recover the body, left the island. 

 Mr. Cunningham was of opinion that the attack had not been pre- 

 meditated, but arose from a sudden desire to obtain possession of the 



* At the Australian Club, I had the pleasure of seeing Count Strezleski, well known 

 ia the United States, who was travelling in New South Wales. 



