for they have often a dozen—Kohe-kohe, Coe-coe, Marua, Tomidel, Tong-ow—missionaries, or, as we should say, Christians; Moning-aw and Mahia—heathens, or devils, as they sometimes call themselves. It sounds rather curious to hear a native, in answer to a question as to whether he is a missionary or not, reply quite coolly, "No; I'm a devil!" By the bye, I have generally found these "debils" the best-working and most civil fellows among them, and think a very reasonable question might be raised as to the relation, among the Mowries, of conversion and laziness. Moning-aw and Mahia were striking instances of this; they certainly were worth more than the other four. The first-named was quite a treasure, and would have been so as a servant in any country. He always carried my bedding and tent—a heavier load than that of any of the others; especially if it had rained in the night, or we started early in the morning, before the dew was off: yet he was always in first after me at the resting-places, and always close at hand to roast potatoes, fetch water, or any other thing that might be wanted, and even without being told; whereas I sometimes had to tell the others a dozen times if I wanted them to do anything of the kind when he was away. The other fellow, Mahia, used to carry such loads, that one day, when Mr. Kohe-kohe was very saucy, I made them change loads, as a punishment to him, which he at first pretended to be very willing to do; but after about an hour's trial (during which time I kept behind him to prevent his deceiving me by giving up a part of his load to others), he fairly gave in, and afterwards, if he offended me, I had only to threaten him with Mahia's load to make him keep close to my heels all day afterwards, which was all I wanted, his load consisting of my books for specimens of plants, &c. I have certainly observed that the missionary natives are the most impertinent and least willing to work; but that ought not to cause ill-will towards
