give him an hour to think about it, but then, when I reminded him that he could do so with a clear conscience ( 238 ) if he gave me as much trust as one owes to an honest man, he found no objections, neither in the state laws nor in our instructions, so he could never be taken to task about it be blamed.

Finally, I asked him about the accusation made by a community leader who said that I had behaved in such a way that the community had to withdraw from us, whether he agreed with this assertion he had made? He denied this, saying he didn't know anything about it, he only heard afterwards that we drank wine and sang; He said I should go to the superintendent and confront him about it. I replied that this was his duty since he belonged to his community and had made the above-mentioned statement before him. At the end we prayed together and shared the kiss of brotherly love and unity. -- Krummnow, who went to the Murray with Engelhardt(197) to look for a place for his settlement, was neither encouraged nor supported by Pastor Kavel, nor was he further advised against it; He should be prepared and instructed before he begins his profession; it was not exactly said whether he would then be ordained.

Mr. Fiedler says he thinks his marriage will last at most another quarter of a year. Bertha patted me on the shoulders, probably to remind me that she would get married if I wanted, but she wanted to have a mother again first to see how she would endow her. During the ( 239 ) evening we were alone again as Mr. Fiedler soon went to his bride. Of course we talked about the past and she asked me to forget it and not think about it anymore. As she was leaving she asked me to come back soon, and if possible on one of the afternoons when she was freest.

February 7th, 1840.
This evening, while we, Brother Teichelmann and me, were at the various native camps, a faint reddish light suddenly appeared in the southern sky. As soon as one person noticed this, he told the others and immediately there arose a general noise and howling among all three tribes, as they took the light to be the harbinger of a plague that would take us all and which a sorcerer from the Northmen would bring about. We told them not to believe it, that such phenomena were common in our country, without the consequences they feared. Some agreed, others disagreed.

February 8th, 1840.
Br. Teichelmann taught school today by doing the A B C and I did the Lautir class. The children's progress is very satisfactory given their circumstances.

Pastor Kavel spent the night at Kleinschmidt's last night. Why couldn't he come to me, especially since he left his horse with Captain Finniss(198)? He didn't come today either, when ( 240 ) Kleinschmidt said that we could expect a visit from him.

Tonight I saw the native again who showed me, Kook and Meier the way and water beyond Mount Barker last year; he recognized me. By tribe or country he is a Karkalyabukka*, his name is _____.