IN THE NATIVE LANGUAGE. 443 
have felt, that the system originally adopted was 
essentially wrong. It has recently been changed, 
and the English is now adopted instead of the 
native language. I should not have named this 
subject at all, had I not been aware that the mis- 
sionaries themselves still retain their former impres- 
sions, and that although they have yielded to public 
opinion on this point, they have not done so from 
a conviction of its utility. 
The second point to which I referred, — the policy, 
or otherwise, of having native establishments near a 
populous European settlement, is a much more 
comprehensive question, and one which might 
admit, perhaps, of some reasons on both sides, 
although, upon the whole, those against it greatly 
preponderate. 
The following are the reasons I have usually 
heard argued for proximity to town. 
1st. It is said that the children sooner acquire 
the English language by mixing among the towns 
people. This, however, to say the least, is a very 
negative advantage, for in such a contact it is far 
more probable that they will learn evil than good ; 
besides, if means were available to enable the masters 
to keep their scholars under proper restrictions, 
there would no longer be even the opportunity for 
enjoying this very equivocal advantage. 
2nd. It is stated that the natives are sooner com- 
pelled to give up their wandering habits, as there 
is no game near a town. This might be well enough 
