a severe blow on the head with the ring-tailed lemur; for what reason? Since the Wirrameyunna were believed to be famous magicians (Nurallarrulla*), it was generally believed that Yurinna and his friends would enchant the waters of the river, so much excitement arose.

The Marimeyunna, on the other hand, are believed to be the bringers of rain and hail.

March 7th, 1840.
Today I had the horrifying experience that Mullawirraburka's youngest wife, Kauwadla*, gave birth to a child on ( 254 ) February 21st, while I was in Hahndorf, and immediately murdered it. I immediately went to the natives and reproached them for the shamefulness of such murder, but some laughed, others were angry, still others, like Kadlitpinna, said that it was an old custom among them to kill newborn children when they were small and weak, and denied the wickedness of such an act; Kadlitpinna was even so stubborn that when I told them that Jehovah would cast such murderers into hell, he said that it didn't matter, that God would always roast him in hell. Kanwadlawaringa* immediately used our teaching about the human soul by trying to refute me by saying that the soul has no body and therefore no feeling. The obsessiveness of the natives is horrifying beyond all imagination when one considers that most mothers confess without concealment [secret] and with the most unnatural impudence and audacity that they have killed one or more of their children. When asked why, they answer, confidently justifying themselves by saying that the previous child was still young and so they could hike better. Some, however, try to deny it and pretend, as in the case above, that the child was dead or rotten, or died at birth, and so on.

God have mercy on these lost people. Amen.

( 255 ) March 8th, 1840. Sunday..
Today the five of us enjoyed Holy Communion again, where I found much edification and comfort in my great sorrow.

In the evening, Br. Teichelmann and I went together to the various native camps and talked to them about God and his works, as well as about the future fate of good and bad people. In some, their belief in the transmigration of souls hindered us, but others believed in us and were attentive. I tried this morning to gather the natives to hear Christian truths, but only a few came, and even their attention was difficult to hold; but they have promised to meet every Sunday from now on. The language is still a big obstacle, but a start must finally be made, albeit very weakly, and as long as Christian teaching is history, this and that can be presented to them in an understandable way.

Oh Jesus!
You who sent us here wanted to be our mouth and tongues, strength and wisdom, for the proclamation of Your glorious Gospel.