444 OBJECTIONS TO ASSEMBLING NATIVES 
if they followed any better employment, but the 
contrary is the case ; and with respect to the school- 
children, the restriction would be the correction of 
a bad habit, which they ought never to be allowed 
to indulge in, and one which might soon be done 
away with entirely if sufficient inducement were 
held out to the parents to put their children to 
school, and allow them to remain there. 
3rd. It is thought that a greater number of 
children can be collected in the vicinity of a town 
than elsewhere. This may perhaps be the case at 
present, but would not continue so if means were 
used to congregate the natives in their own proper 
districts. 
4th. It is said that provisions and clothing are 
cheaper in town and more easily procured than 
elsewhere. This is the only apparently valid rea- 
son of the whole, but it is very questionable whe- 
ther it is sufficient to counterbalance the many evils 
which may result from too close a contiguity to 
town, and especially so as far as the adults are con- 
cerned. With respect to the children, if kept 
within proper bounds, and under proper discipline, 
it is of little importance where they may be located, 
and perhaps a town may for such purposes be some- 
times the best. With the older natives however it 
is far different, and the evils resulting to them from 
too close contact with a large European population, 
are most plainly apparent ; in, — 
1st. The immorality, which great as it is among 
