In the early evening we decorated the Font, and when the building was lit up at night with lots of candles, it looked quite nice. The service was quite one of the most stirring I have ever taken part in, and the ready responses one by one, of men and women, produced a great effect on every one present. The women, generally like poor frightened, startled creatures, answered out marvellously, with a vigour and earnestness, such as no one was prepared for. The ceremony of Baptizing twenty-five people took some time, but no one seemed fatigued, so interested were they in what was going on. Among the number Baptized were a blind man, and a blind woman, but they, like the rest, were wonderfully self-possessed. Poor Diu, whom I called Kate, after Miss Lodge, who had nursed her so faithfully at Norfolk Island, was perfectly ecstatic in her delight, and seemed endued with special strength, having risen from a bed of sickness on purpose to be present.
I gave a short address afterwards, and was followed by Charles, who spoke well to the subject, and in very good taste considering the number of outsiders present.
We finished with the Nunc Dimittis, a fitting conclusion to a most beautiful service.
_Monday, September 27th._--A most beautiful day, and a whole holiday. I told the scholars in the morning that I wished to see only smiling and happy faces all day, and to hear of nothing but joy and gladness because of the occasion of the holiday, viz., to celebrate the spiritual birthday of twenty-five brothers and sisters. Food in large quantities was provided, and we managed to secure two pigs for the feast. I think it was the brightest and happiest day I have ever known here, and our festivities were shared in by a number of neighbours. Contrary to strict custom here, the women and girls of the school prepared the food under the trees on the beach, the boys chopping the wood and doing the heavy work. The scene was a very animated one, and all seemed to be in the very best of tempers. In the evening the ovens were opened, and the distribution of the food was made. Unfortunately I was not very well myself, but that did not interfere very much with the rest. In the cool of the evening the boys played a number of their native games, very pretty and very picturesque, with a pretty song to each. When darkness closed in we had Evensong, and then the happy day was brought to an end.