446 
EMPLOYMENT OF NATIVES 
detached parties from almost all parts of the co- 
lony. Some from the neighbourhood of Bonney’s 
Well, or 120 miles south ; some from the Broughton, 
or 120 miles north ; some from the upper part of the 
Murray, or nearly 200 miles east. Thus are as- 
sembled at one spot sometimes portions of tribes 
the most distant from each other, and whose lan- 
guages, customs and ceremonies are quite dissimilar. 
If any proof were wanted to shew the power of 
European influence in removing prejudices or effect- 
ing a total revulsion of their former habits and cus- 
toms, a stronger one could scarcely be given than 
this motley assembly of “ all nations and languages.” 
In their primitive state such a meeting could never 
take place ; the distant tribes would never have 
dreamt of attempting to pass through the country 
of the intermediate ones, nor would the latter 
have allowed a passage if it had been attempted. 
I have remarked that in Adelaide many of the 
natives support themselves by light easy work, or 
going errands ; there are also a dozen, or fourteen 
young men employed regularly as porters to store- 
keepers with whom they spend two-thirds of their 
time, and make themselves very useful. At har- 
vest time many natives assist the settlers. At En- 
counter Bay during 1843, from 70 to 100 acres of 
wheat or barley, were reaped by them ; at Adelaide 
from 50 to 60 acres, and at Lynedoch Valley they 
aided in cutting and getting in 200 acres. Other 
natives have occasionally employed themselves use- 
