| 883 this Island, and have been instrumental in his hands of showing them the way of life and salvation, I doubt not but you would say, "there has been a great change wrought some how."
I told you in my last, dated July 6th, I had baptized one; on the 22nd July I baptized nine more, four Americans, one Scotchman, four Natives; two of them are the man and wife with whom I live. On the 29th July, I proceeded to organize a branch of the church, which we call the Tooboui branch of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day-Saints; (take particular notice) consisting of eleven members, all in good standing.
On the 5th of August, I administered the sacrament: for wine I substituted cocoa nut milk, that was a pure beverage, which never had come to the open air, till we broke the nut for that purpose. On the 8th of August, I baptized another. The inhabitants have recently held a meeting to regulate Government affairs, among other things, they resolved to build me a house; they seem determined on my staying here, notwithstanding I say much about the gathering.
Were I to take up my residence any where out of the body of the church, I could not find I believe, a more delightful spot than this;-the climate is beautiful: never so cold as to have frost though in July and August it is as cold as it can be, and not freeze-January and February are the warmest months, though the heat is never so scorching as some days we have at home.
There are only two objections to the Island; in summer the mosquitos [mosquitoes] are innumerable;-in winter the fleas are equally plenty: but we have means to guard against them.
Before I came here King Tommatooah, buried his wife; on the 14th July I married him, to Toupah, his Queen; he has been very friendly with me ever since I came here. Perhaps you will ask, how do you enjoy yourself so far from former friends and home? I answer, sometimes when I get to thinking about home I feel that I could leave all and return as quick as possible: a few evenings since I fell into such a train of thoughts, and told my brethren I went to bed, fell asleep and dreamed, I had deserted my post and got to Nauvoo; the people all knew I had left without counsel, and they treated me with coolness and neglect;-this mortified my feelings so much that I never thought of my family; I saw Br. Young, he was busily employed in sending a company of elders to Europe; I felt an anxiety to go with them; but I had deserted one station, and they never intended to send me to another. I then thought I would go back to the one I had left, but I had no means to get back, or to help myself with; I thought my shame was greater than I could bear, and with these reflections I awoke.
I was sometime before I could make out where I was; at length I found myself in bed on Tooboui, and felt quite happy, I have been perfectly contented since. I have lived at Mattaoora since I came here, till the 23d of August. I then removed to this place called Mahoo; this is the place where we first landed.
The second Sabbath after I came, the church came over to visit me, and I baptized seven more, all natives and heads of families. I administered the sacrament and me [we] felt that we were greatly blest.
Last Saturday a vessel came on the other side of the Island, and Br. Hill sent me word she was from Tahita. I started to see her, in hopes to get letters from my two brethren there; but when I found they had none, I was sorely disappointed, and vexed; I have never received but two letters from them since they left me here; there has been no less than eight vessels here going to Tahita, and I have sent letters by them all, and Br. Hill near a half dozen; and we get no answers; why it is we do not know, if they are not in the fault, we wish them to clear themselves.
It is now a year, since I have heard a syllable from home, and three months since I have heard from the brethren at Tahita. The last mentioned vessel brought word that there were missionaries coming here from Tahita and would "play hell" with me for breaking into their sheepfold. I returned to my place, told Br. Hill if any thing of importance transpired, to send me word.
There came a runner before my morning discourse was ended, informing me that the missionaries had arrived. In the evening came a letter that they had been on shore and given the poor Mormons a tremendous thrashing;-christened some infants, told all the lies they knew about Br. Joseph and the church, and had gone on board again; that they were to be on shore the next day, and I must meet them.
The next morning I went over, and found them in the house I had kept school in learning the natives to sing. Br. Bowen was acquainted with them. I went in with my church, and was introduced to them, I reached out my hand they said, no; we do not give you the hand till we are better acquainted. I sat down where I could look them full in the face, which I did, as if they had been the first specimens
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