HIS DAILY BREAD 323 



ness of their coronation robes was shown her, and she was 

 told that " fella King belonga whiteman. That fella Queen 

 wife, you know." Putting her democratic forefinger on 

 each alternately, Nelly said—" That fella man ; that fella 

 Missis ! My word ! Got 'nother kind blanket 1 " 



His Daily Bread 



The Government of Queensland is conscientiously 

 performing the duty of smoothing the pillows of the dying 

 race. On the coast several mission stations have been 

 established where the blacks of the neighbourhood are 

 gathered together and, under discipline tempered with a 

 strong religious element, taught to take care of themselves. 

 The system is under the supervision of an experienced 

 official, entitled the "Chief Protector of Aboriginals," and he 

 tells a story which throws rays of light in more than one 

 direction. 



A plump boy, who several months before had been 

 consigned to a mission station quite out of the neighbour- 

 hood, presented himself at the head office, and with a rather 

 rueful countenance answered a few of the preliminary 

 inquiries of the Protector. Confidence having been gained, 

 particular questions were asked. 



" Yis," said the boy, " me bin stockrider belonga 

 Yenda. Come down alonga town have spell." 



" But you belong to Fraser Island mission station." 



" Yis, me bin alonga that place." 



" Why you no stop ? That very good place." 



" Nahr ! No blurry good." 



" You get plenty tucker — plenty everything that 

 place." 



This provoked a trailing exclamation of dissent and 

 disgust. " N-a-hr ! Blenty ask it — no get 'em. Ebery 

 morning tell that big fella Boss (with an upward jerk of the 

 head) gib it daily-bread. Dinner-time tell it gib it daily- 

 bread. One time more alonga tea tell it that big fella Boss 

 gib it daily-bread." 



