Having conceded this, not without scruples, however, he did make considerable progress, so much, in fact, that I perceived that the priests of Oro were beginning to grow very jealous of him and of his increasing authority with the people.

Bastin was naturally triumphant, and even exclaimed exultingly that within a year he would have half of the population baptised.
"Within a year, my dear fellow," said Bickley, "you will have your throat cut as a sacrifice, and probably ours also.

It is a pity, too, as within that time I should have stamped out ophthalmia and some other diseases in the island." Here, leaving Bastin and his good work aside for a while, I will say a little about the country.

From information which I gathered on some journeys that I made and by inquiries from the chief Marama, who had become devoted to us, I found that Orofena was quite a large place.

In shape the island was circular, a broad band of territory surrounding the great lake of which I have spoken, that in its turn surrounded a smaller island from which rose the mountain top.