Page:The Native Tribes of South Australia (1879).djvu/129

 ESTABLISHMENT OF MISSION. 67 and that if he becomes an opponent to religion he is a more artful and unscrupulous and dangerous enemy than any member of the other class. During these five months in which the house was being built, I occupied myself much in going about with and amongst the natives, picking up a knowledge of their customs and language. This led me into much intercourse, not only with them, but also with the white settlers around the Lakes. I was frequently amused by the curious ideas which people had of the best way to treat the blacks. I remember one instance which occurred at this time. I happened to be detained at a shepherd’s hut by a contrary gale of wind, which prevented us from pursuing our voyage. My host, who was very hospitable, soon discovered that I was a missionary. A short time before two natives had been arrested for killing one of their tribe. The shepherd strongly expressed his opinion that they ought to be hanged. I ventured to put forward my doubts about the justice of such an extreme punishment, as the crime had been committed in accordance with the native custom to avenge the death of a relative. The shepherd’s reply has often recurred to my memory. "I dinna think," said he, "that we ought to care about their customs at a’; we ought to mak’ them gie up a’ such hathenish practices. Sure, it’s our duty to do a’ we can to mak’ Christians o’ them. Hang them, by a’ means, sir; I say, hang them! Sure, it’s our duty to mak’ Christians o’ them." Happily, there are few who would take this method of making Christians. On the 4th of October, 1859, I took my family up to Point Macleay, and have resided there ever since. The position was isolated enough. At that time our nearest neighbour was five miles off, our next ten miles beyond that, and our next fifteen miles further still. Very often we could not get across the lake for a fortnight in stormy weather. We were thus quite thrown upon the natives for society. There was myself and wife and three little children (the eldest six years of age), and a servant-girl of sixteen. Several times I have left my wife and family while I went away to the other side of the lake and never in a