The information was received by the islanders with something like despair.
Old King Tamatoa came to him and said, "Viriamu, I have been thinking you are a strange man.

JESUS did not take care of His body.

He did not even shrink from death, and now you are afflicted you are going to leave us." Prayer was offered all over the island, and in the midst of all the preparations for departure the disease began to ameliorate, and Mr.
Williams recovered for a time, though the next year a recurrence of the attack made him resolve upon a visit to Sydney, not only for the sake of advice, but in the hope of establishing a market for the produce of the Society Isles, which might give a motive to the industry he was so anxious to promote, and likewise to obtain a vessel to be used for the missions.
Two Raiatean teachers instructed by him were landed at the island of Aitutake on the way, after the chiefs had pledged themselves to support and protect them, and the voyage was continued to Australia, where there was as usual a warm reception from Mr.Marsden.

It was a very important visit.

Parts of the Holy Scriptures, catechisms, and spelling-books, were printed; the ship, with the assistance of the Society of which Marsden was agent, was purchased, a schooner of ninety tons, and named _Te Matama_, the Beginner; a person named Scott secured, at 150_l._ per annum, to instruct the natives in the cultivation of sugar and tobacco, and stores laid in of presents for the natives, clothes for the women, shoes, stockings, tea-kettles, tea-cups, saucers, and tea.