In the latter end of the year 1821, Mrs. Williams's health being much impaired, and suffering myself from the effects of a disease prevalent in the islands, it was deemed desirable to avail ourselves of an opportunity, which was then afforded, of visiting New South Wales. Desirous of making the affliction subservient to the one great object to which our lives were devoted, we determined to take with us two native Christians, and place them as teachers in the Island of Aitutaki.

The captain of the vessel having kindly consented to convey them, without expense either to ourselves or the Society, we mentioned the circumstance to the members of the church, who were delighted with the proposition, and selected Papeiha, and Vahapata, two of their number, for the work. Of Papeiha much will be said hereafter, for he has been exceedingly useful, and, to the present moment, has preserved an unsullied reputation. These two brethren were set apart to their office in an interesting service, held on the day of our departure from Raiatea. The minds of our people had been awakened to the subject of extending the knowledge of the Gospel, by a peculiarly interesting circumstance that had just before occurred. An island called Rurutu, about 350 miles to the south of Raiatea, was visited by an epidemic, which appears to have been exceedingly fatal.