| 503 In regard to the field here, I would simply say, that with Tahiti in the southwest corner, there are some fifty or more islands stretching north and east, and all points between, and the farthest about four hundred miles from Tahiti. These are known as the Paumotus, Chain Islands, and Morea and Matea, these two are not Motus, but mountainous; that is, Tahiti and Morea are. Matea is neither one or the other. It is an island with bluffs all around, perpendicular, two hundred feet high, and the top is nearly level. In some places the bluff is close to the water, in others a hundred yards back from the sea, here is where settlements are. This island is distinct in its formation from the Paumotus, yet in many respects similar. We have been on the Paumotus and here since the 15th of March, except about three weeks on Matea. On the Paumotus only cocoanuts [coconuts] grow-no oranges, lemons, pineapples, viis, fees, and but very few bananas, and no vegetables, except taro in places; so we are not living on fruit and vegetables all the time. We get here fish, bread and potatoes, when a vessel brings some; but they will not keep but a few days in this climate. We will be glad to get back to Tahiti, that we may see a cabbage, and a beet, and a turnip, and other things of the kind. We can get canned fruit here for eighty cents for two-pound cans, and this is fruit that is left over from last year in San Francisco. The sisters of Oakland sent us last spring some fresh canned goods, and they were good. We bought a can of Australian beef, called "Irish stew," which we found was the meat from a beef's head. But we have enough to eat, and in usual health. I was very sick lately, but am about as usual now.
There are a number of islands west of Tahiti, not under the French Protectorate, but under native kings and queens, that I would like to get a foothold upon; but the Protestant missionaries would do everything in their power to hinder us. It would be a good thing if we could establish our cause there. But I can not leave the forty branches in these parts, all clamoring for my presence, and I know that some need vastly more instruction than I can give them. I am sick at heart with the idea of the vastness of the work, and my inability to attend to but a small part of it, and I fear that I will not be able to stand the strain a great while without my health giving way. Why can not some of our rich brethren give five hundred dollars and send a couple of elders with their wives out here? No one would be wise to bring children. I think Bro. Luther R. Devore and wife would do here, as they have no children. Bro. and Sr. Brand would do here first-rate. But there are others, whom you know better than I do. If Bro. Mahlon Smith and his wife will come, all right.
The way we are treated in going from island to island, and the way we manage, is this. In every place a comfortable house with two or three rooms is furnished us. Most generally a good bed of cotton, pillows, sheets, and covering. We carry, however, a couple of pillows, a blanket and quilt. We seldom use the blanket, except perhaps to put under us where no bed is furnished, and that was but once. These beds, pillows, etc., are very clean and comfortable. Chairs, tables, knives and forks,
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