February 9th, 1840. Sunday.
In the evening Br. Teichelmann and me were with Preacher Stow, expecting that he would give a funeral oration to the late Williams, but this did not happen. On the way back we passed by the natives and were not a little surprised to see a dance performed by the Marimeyunna. While the women, huddled together in a tight circle, sang a monotonous but gentle-sounding song, the men, decorated with large

white stripes, danced with an agility, grace and tact that astonished us. Nothing was heard of the wild, senseless roar of the local natives, but at most the sound of two wirri slapping together to set the beat. February 10th, 1840.
Julius Fiedler met me this evening with the natives. During the short conversation we had together, he expressed his dissatisfaction with church affairs and his intention to go back. Natives of the Murray were amazed and delighted when I addressed them in the Encounter Bay language, which they understood.

( 241 ) February 11th, 1840.
My Bertha, who I visited today, received me very friendly. Unable to completely put aside the memory of what had happened, I appeared less cheerful than usual, which is why Bertha asked me what was wrong with me or why I looked so sad. When I replied that I was fine, she came and snuggled up to me lovingly: she made the evening meal as early as possible in order to make our evening that much longer. After tea, when we were able to spend a moment alone again, she laid my head on her bosom, lamented that she had had to miss me for so long and praised our lot as a wonderful one, so that I too could not refrain from saying that her regained love made me happy. I was talking about engagement; She said that it was unnecessary for her sake, that nothing should separate her from me, that something completely extraordinary would have to happen. Bertha had accused Mr. Fiedler of his slander, and he had denied it and also made it clear that he would confront Bauer harshly about it.

Since August Fiedler, who has the matter in his face, stayed at home during the evening service, Bertha and I visited the service instead.

Mr. Howe(063), who recently drove a herd of cattle here from New South Wales ( 242 ), told me that the natives were indeed treacherous and that one had to be careful with them, but that the drovers also lived terribly among them; Not only had they found a lot of skulls, but the last ones, namely Finissen's traveling party, themselves admitted that at one point no fewer than 8 men of them had been shot. He praised New South Wales as being much better than South Australia.

February 14th, 1840.
In the evening Mr. Kook came to me unexpectedly; There is a rumor that Mr. Harrock's(199) shepherd was killed by natives.