Page:The Native Tribes of South Australia (1879).djvu/175

 EXTRACTS FROM JOURNAL. 109 It is true that the money thus raised was spent upon the natives; but it is satisfactory to think that the benefit which they thus received was derived from their own labour. We have had to endure the vicissitudes of the seasons, hut have great reason to be thankful to our Father in Heaven for prospering the work of our hands. The Government of South Australia, in 1865, gave a lease of 730 acres of land to the Institution. Upon this tract our farming operations have been carried on. I will here give a few more extracts from my journals, showing the state of the Mission in 1867:  5th June, 1867. I fear that the number of children amongst the natives is decreasing. I account for this state of things by supposing that it arises partly from drink and partly from prostitution. The former leads to the latter. The tidy virtuous women, who live in the bush, have as many children as they had formerly. The falling-off is on the part of the bad characters, who hang about the townships and public-houses.* 6th. Truly our work is very humbling and dispiriting. There is no romance about it; it is downright hard routine and drudgery. And yet, if Jesus took upon himself the form of a servant, why should we murmur. The waywardness of the Christian natives is a constant trial; they want the most unreasonable things, and are vexed when we must refuse. It is natural to man to like work in which he succeeds, and to work all the harder under the influence of success, but there is little of that here. May God give us help, that we may not be weary in well-doing. lst July. A very wet and stormy day. On Saturday night Teenminne had a daughter; she is doing very well. When I went to see her she was sitting up in the wurley, and the cold wind blowing in upon her; all she wanted was half a stick of tobacco, which I gave her. Afterwards I took her into the house and provided for her. Christian natives has steadily increased.
 * Since Christianity has become more prevalent, the number of children amongst the