New Zealand Feby 16 1815 Revd Sir, After spending nearly five years at Port Jackson We have arrived safe at the Bay of Islands and are living under Duaterra’s protection, he is at this time very Sick, his Friends says [sic] that he will die in a few Days, the Natives behave as well as can be expected considering, the pitiable state they are in, they are redy [sic] to receive any instruction provided we was able to supply them with provision and clothing— for the sake of these things the Children will be redy to learn to read and write or any trade we are able to teach them, at present they have no Idea of Spiritual wants, knowing not the God that made them, from whence they came or whither they are going— Who made their Countary [sic] nor the things that are therein neither the Sea which surrounds it, but are in midnight darkness. Their Wars and exploits it [sic] Battle, the Wounds they have received, the Deaths they have escaped, the Battles they have Won, are the topic of Conversation, Guns and Powder their chief desire in times of Danger, In civil and peaceable times Axes, Billhooks, Chisels, Knives, Plain iorns [sic], Files, Hoes, &c &c is their principal Wants, A large Axe is their topmost Desire, and bottommost too, if I mistake not. There is among them Many quiet and decent beheaved [sic] Men and Women, Who apparently wish to pry into every thing, and are of a quick understanding and very partial to White people. Dueaterra says they know nothing about Sunday nor of our Religon [sic] as yet, by & by they know and like it very well, &c. With regard to particulers [sic] respecting N-Z- Mr Marsden coming with us, all that has passed respecting the mission [f] I refer you to Mr Kendles account who is able to give particulers &c &c. Our Houses are made with Flags, it will neither keep wind nor rain out, it has no Chimney in it, the floor is Dirt, it is half over our shoes in watter [sic] when it rains, it has rained this four Days together, I am in good health and our little Boy, but it is very uncomfortable for us, and especially for my Wife, for she has taken a severe Cold, and expects every Day to be put to Bed, We expect to have a better House soon, but I fear not before Winter, If our Lives are spared for good to these People, these sufferings will be looked upon, and, thought to be light Afflictions, if we have the blessedness to experence [sic] upon a dieing bed that there is laid up for us, a Crown of Glory that fadeth not away. May these few Lines find you and your Family in good Health, as they leaves me, May the work of the Lord prosper in your Hands, Among the Heathen, and throughtout [sic] the whole Earth, May it be our happy Lott (if not on earth) to meet in his presence where there is fullness of Joy and be exalted to his right Hand where there are Pleasures for ever more is the sinceare [sic] Prayer of your unworthy servant, So I rest Revd Sir Your Most unworthy Servant John King [f] P.S. Feby 25 Mrs King was put to Bed on Monday the 20th With a Son She is very ill at present haveing taken a bad cold but are in hope through the blessing of God that she will soon recover Mr Marsden will Christen the Boy before he goes bak [sic] to Port Jackson Dueaterra it is expected will die J K