HighuptheRewa，atthevillageofachief，Mongondrobyname，JohnStarhurstrestedattheendoftheseconddayofthejourney。Inthemorning，attendedbyNarau，heexpectedtostartonfootforthesmokymountainsthatwerenowgreenandvelvetywithnearness。Mongondrowasasweet—tempered，mild—manneredlittleoldchief，short—sightedandafflictedwithelephantiasis，andnolongerinclinedtowardtheturbulenceofwar。Hereceivedthemissionarywithwarmhospitality，gavehimfoodfromhisowntable，andevendiscussedreligiousmatterswithhim。Mongondrowasofaninquiringbentofmind，andpleasedJohnStarhurstgreatlybyaskinghimtoaccountfortheexistenceandbeginningofthings。WhenthemissionaryhadfinishedhissummaryoftheCreationaccordingtoGenesis，hesawthatMongondrowasdeeplyaffected。Thelittleoldchiefsmokedsilentlyforsometime。Thenhetookthepipefromhismouthandshookhisheadsadly。
\"Itcannotbe，\"hesaid。\"I，Mongondro，inmyyouth，wasagoodworkmanwiththeadze。Yetthreemonthsdidittakemetomakeacanoe——asmallcanoe，averysmallcanoe。Andyousaythatallthislandandwaterwasmadebyoneman——\"
\"Nay，wasmadebyoneGod，theonlytrueGod，\"themissinaryinterrupted。
\"Itisthesamething，\"Mongondrowenton，\"thatallthelandandallthewater，thetrees，thefish，andbushandmountains，thesun，themoon，andthestars，weremadeinsixdays！No，no。ItellyouthatinmyyouthIwasanableman，yetdiditrequiremethreemonthsforonesmallcanoe。Itisastorytofrightenchildrenwith;butnomancanbelieveit。\"
\"Iamaman，\"themissionarysaid。