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[Page 182]
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ILLUSTRATIONS OF ABORIGINAL LIFE AND CHARACTER.
One of the first-fruits of that mission was Daniel Tudhku, a native of the Murray River, who was for years a diligent workmen, a devout worshipper, and a zealous promoter of the Gospel. The last character he fulfilled by visiting his countrymen, and bringing in all whom he could persuade to come and receive instruction at the station. When that man was on his death-bed, the ruling passion of his life was strongly expressed in his prayer that a mission might be established on the Murray, for the benefit of his tribe. At the last he gave a remarkable proof of his faith and patience:–As he was evidently in great pain, those who stood by expressed their concern for him, on which he said–"Oh! there's no cause for impatience; this is the Lord's doing; let him do what seemeth him good."
Poor Harry! I must not end this chapter without a word or two about him. When I was preaching on the Upper Paterson, in 1851, he was working as a boy for Mr. Alexander Cameron, a highland farmer, then tenant of Guygallon, now cultivating his own property on the Dingo Creek, Manning River. Harry had been brought down from the Namoi to Maitland, about 400 miles, by some carriers; and found his way from Maitland up the Paterson. Cameron and his wife treated him very kindly, and he was content to stay with them and make himself useful. He used to come in with the small congregation that gathered in their house, to the evening service, once a fortnight. He was pleased at being recognised as one for whom the minister cared: and I found that by merely acting on the rule–"honour all men"–treating him as a ellofellow-creature, I had won his friendship. About four years afterwards I men him in the district of his tribe, at Bungulgully, near the Namoi. He had heard of my coming and went out on the track to meet me His countenance expressed his joy. He gave me help in learning Kamilaroi, and listened with earnest attention to my endeavours to express, in his native tongue, the thought, "murruba Immanuel; kamil ƞarageful murruba yealokwai ƞerma" (good is Immanuel; there is not another good like him), and the facts that prove the truth of that assertion to a simple mind.
When I went down the Namoi in 1871, there was no one else of whom I thought so much as Harry of Bungulgully, my first and most hopeful friend among the Australian Aborigines. When I came to the place, I found that he had been accidentally killed. The curse of Aborigines, and settlers too, in many instances–rum–was the occasion of the accident. After drinking at a public-house till his brain was confused, he leapt on his horse and rode full gallop under a tree, with the arm of which his head came in contact. Poor Harry! it shall be more tolerable for thee in the day of judgment than for many who have abused greater advantages.