The SKIOLD / SKJOLD 1841 arrived at Port Adelaide on 28 October 1841 |
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We 6 men in charge disembarked immediately to go to Klemzig to Pastor Kavel. On the way, before we left the ship we met up with the hunter Fiedler from Klemzig and the teacher Kavel who had been informed the night before and then we were also confronted by naked natives, blacks. Of that more later. We travelled via Adelaide to Klemzig and, as Pastor Kavel happened to be in Hahndorf, a mounted messenger gave him the news. How joyfully Pastor Kavel and Br Wittwer welcomed us and proceeded in triumph to the Port where our people awaited us. There were many tears of joy on seeing one's own people again but also tears of grief when, in searching for your own you did not find them for they had landed at another port. .. So, Pastor Kavel made an urgent address to us ….John ? If you would believe …. us would … refresh with so …… vegetables and good bread and milk after a journey of 3½ thousand German miles and our … competed with our brothers and sisters and came on the following day and in triumph brought us to their two villages. I and another section went to Hahndorf to Br Wittwer and the brethren in Hahndorf who all knew me gave me a house in which to live and also work, so that I was given work at a Deutschman named Schineding where other Germans were. For 24 weeks I worked in the garden and received per week 10 English shillings, so in 24 weeks, 12 Pounds and my keep. In that time, my wife was also able to earn a little and receive some gifts, so that from Br. Wittwer we bought a cow for 10 pounds and some necessities from the other gifts. During that time we had bought 196 acres of land from the Government. To this Madam Mehrlieb?, mother in law of P. Fritsche lent the money at one pound sterling per acre so on one section I have 6 acres or 19 Magdeburg morgen all wheat area. As in June it was already late for sowing, when we arrived there and before that I had to build a house, I only began digging in July about 2 acres and sowed it with wheat which my wife had gathered from English fields. From that I harvested 43 bushels or 21 Breslauer Scheffel. On the other hand, a number of the other Brethen such as Seidel, Heppner, Klemcke, Lehmann, Kliche, brothers Nitschke, I and many others more were moved to another area on to Quaser ? land, and if they wished to buy had to pay 5 pounds sterling per acre. The reason was that they did not settle for just a few acres, but take whole sections. One section is 80 acres or 120 morgen which Hepper(Hoepner?) of Prittag and Hahnberg from Sawade have. Others have 1 ½ and 4 times that and regret it, for grain is very cheap and this year the brethren of the village called Bethany, where they live, have had smut in the wheat. We, on the other hand, in Lobethal, the name of our village which lies 20 English miles from of Adelaide, 8 miles from Hahndorf, 30 miles from Bethany and 18 miles from Klemzig - one English mile is a ¼ of a German one. We live near Hahndorf in the hills and the other two villages below the hills. In the hills it is distinctly cooler than in Klemzig or Bethany. The heat in the land is so hard (intense) that one often looks around to see whether there is fire behind. But, with us it is not so strongly. Yet, it is a healthy climate for there is little illness and the doctors have little to do. I once had Yellow Fever for some weeks, but am well again now, thank God. Here wheat only is sown June to August and near Adelaide the harvest is in December and in Jan. ? With cattle it is very convenient, for in the morning we milk, turn them into the bush and evenings come home and so daily for the whole year, for we know nothing of frost and cold, for winter is the best time to sow, 2 lines a week. There is no shortage of wood so much that often you can neither run nor drive. We on our land have much wood. Of wild cattle we have only wild dogs which attack the sheep. There are snakes here, but not so dangerous, also scorpions. In birds there are many varieties of parrots which cause annoyance, for as with the sparrows they attack the wheat, but much greater. This year I functioned as cook at the Kampagner for 10 weeks to the sheep shearer and received 15 shillings per week. During this time I slaughtered 140 sheep and used 700 lbs. Of sugar as well as 100 lbs tea and 5000lbs flour. This is the daily lifestyle here amongst the English for whom we work. So in the morning we enjoy mutton, tea and bread for midday tea, meat and bread and evenings the same for tea is the healthiest in this climate. When a man receives his weekly rations, he as shepherd or employee is given 12lbs mutton, 12lbs, flour, 2lbs sugar ¼ lb tea and 10 schillings. This is at present quite cheap. Now dear mother and brothers, one thing more. You know that I have lost all of my children, but to my joy I must tell you that God presented me with a son on August 10 1842. He was given the name of John Karl at holy baptism and has given me and my wife much joy, God be praised. At 1 year he began to walk and is now 1½ years old. Rejoice with me. Now a little about the natives, we and the English call them blackmen, for in English black is Schwarz as they are known in German. They are completely black and go about entirely naked. They carry the children on their backs and their diet is snakes, lizards, fish, roots and they come to our village to beg. They are very friendly but lazy and steal very much. But in English law punishment for stealing is as follows: Be they white or black, if the value of the forcibly stolen article exceeds 1 pound sterling, the thief is hanged, if it is less in value he is sent to Suducei (no idea of this!) The blacks are very unknowing, know nothing of God, do not worship an idol, but at full moon they dance about the fire and sing. They believe that on dying they will turn white and on their death the heaven's will have one star more. They often fornicate with the Englishmen, but if they give birth to a white child, they kill it immediately. The men, like the Jews, have long beards and also circumcision. They carry long spears and arrows and are so efficient in their throwing that they will strike a bird in flight. There are 4 missionaries here, but thus far have been able to achieve little. When one of them dies, they will carry it around for 4 days and weep and howl miserably and lay their dead out on the branches of the trees in the forest. But now the government will no longer tolerate this and they are now buried in the ground, There are several tribes and they are often at war with one another. The tribe Morrestrou has the strongest people, the men to … inches and straight as a light… Often they travel through our village by the hundred. Each one has only one wife and they have at most 3 or 4 children. For this time enough of the blacks. Now my dear mother and brothers. What we in Prussia have lost through the authorities, namely freedom of worship, that have we in the fullest meaning of the word again found and again have unhindered religion in the country. Glory Be! Halleluya! And should letters come differing from what I write, they lie. What Theodor Heinrich from Glogau has written to Hamburg is slander, for that has proceeded (come from) the church. Krurnnow and Liebald of Parmeranian…live with the (this makes no sense) March is synod in Bethany, where a difficult matter is to be discussed, namely Christmas or the 1000 year of whom the majority with P. Fritsche and a portion are strongly opposed. Of that a later report. P. Fritsche has the congregation in Lobethal and Bethany and P. Kavel of Klemzig and Hahndorf. Pastor is married to Dorothea Mehrlich and at Christmas 1842 she was delivered of a young daughter which the doctors had to take out in sections. The woman was ill in the following year but has now recovered. But he is here and not well and resides in our village. Pastor Kavel had been married to an English woman before we came here. She in 1841 was delivered of a child and that child also taken out in sections and mother and child placed in the one coffin, much pain and strong reaction on the servants of the word and their families. The officials have not concerned themselves with our church, nor with the matter of the marriages. Of that a later report after synod Dr. ? Hin…? And Mrs. Topps of Hamburg arrived here last year. We are aware of the great fire in Hamburg and know of the great drought as well as the harvest and of some of the conditions in the church, for I have read a letter from Freiskadt and from Katherin of Schlain to Heine…. From Hamburg. Your spirited tolerance is dangerous, beware and pray. We are also doing it for you, for the devil is now very active both within and outside of the church. God be praised for all he does for us. We have sermons twice each week and sacrement, no policemen come here, no district president and Prince of Carolath puts us into chains and prison and takes from us, no one is here who professes to be Lutheran, but is not. The old is …it is all new. Now dear mother and brothers and relatives, you know our attitude to the church and our own life and do accept it, as I have written, namely in love. Dear mother who has brought me up, thank you sincerely for that. I think of you each day and in prayer and should you still be alive, I beg of you earnestly, do forgive me wherein I have offended you, with my wife. But as a widow do live as one who hopes in God and persists day and night before God in prayer. Save your soul, save it ….throughout. That you could hear these sermons, if you had come along. The time of grace is very short and P. Fritsche often tells is that God records every hour that we have spent in prayer and on that day will let all the world see how the Lutherans who emigrated to South Australia have behaved and produced grapes or ……? And that many a one who has gone from one side of the earth to the other for his faith will yet find himself dammed in eternity. For the emigration brings no one salvation! But make use of those factors freely my dear mother, even though there is no indication that we may see each other again in this world, for the distance is too great with God all things are possible. But eternally I do wish to see you again, so repent truly and believe on Jesus, also in the reality that the spirit of God may give voice within you. Dear Father. Then may you, joyfully end your life's journey and land at the Port of Eternity and to welcome you there will be me and my young brother Gottlob and my sister, but , if we were not yet there my three dear children who have gone before in addition to I hope ? my deceased father. Yes strive for that with all your might until God the word of God …God and ….for the sake of Jesus righteousness. God gave that to you,Amen Fair ? well advanced in years and make no more effort and believe that as an honest man I shall be able to leave this world … and pay every remaining debts in Germany. So soon as I shall have received a letter from you and know how you are and whether you are still alive, I shall send £2 for your needs. Much happier I should be, if my brothers came, Karl and Christian and you with them. I would be very pleased and do what I can to gladly help mother with her shipping costs and seek to do the best for you at your commencement. Now I must close but will add a little in the enclosed letter. Do read that one as well and then send it on as indicated. I have paid off £11 to …..?, to Nicolei £1½ for the land and more besides next year if well and alive there will be more. Dear Brother Christian and Karl, I greet you too heartily. How pleased I should be to hear that you are well. You can see that I am not so badly off as in Germany, for I am able to pay debts and shall also pay father Liers. And should you wish to come I shall recompense you. Do enquire when a ship leaves. Take plenty of butter, cheese, plums and roast bread, wine, brandy, pepper, mullet, and oatmeal for the trip. For this is very good for …..? and see to it that the ship takes on plenty of water. That is what we lacked, for you cannot drink sea water. And greet heartily from me the brothers and sisters Schmidt, Shulzes, Lichrs and Rarnieus ? in Grunberg. Also Br. Watler and his …..? as well as Br. Bar in Jania and others there, but particularly cousin…? School teacher Bekk ..? who really concerns me. We could well have used such a man here. I greet him heartily and do request that my letter be given to everyone who wishes to have the news. Also Bro. Schroter in …..? and my Godfather and his dear wife and children and friends and thank him again for all his love toward me and my child which arrives here earlier and is now released from it, for it is now grown and has taken possession of its share as allotted at baptism. May God reward him in time and in eternity for his love shown to me. Also hearty greetings to Br. Fiebiger and yet the Brs. Hoffmann, Schober, Bekker from Lessendorf of whom I have often spoken with Johann Muller who lived almost next to me and who also sends greetings ignore the other letter. [Note by translator W.E. : what follows is a rather jumbled list and may not mean a great deal]. …Waikens whose brother in-law ? Seifert, Jentrel .. and other descendants ? and the Polish cousins ? My dear sister and her sons and the …brothers and sisters .. also Liersaus in …. Everyone known to us greet also P.Friebus ? and Pruice von Carolath and all those who hold office and Mr. Justice Neuman and the respected Messrs von Bajenowski /, cousin Mr. Halz ? and his family. My address when you write is to the land owner Emanuel Klar of Lobethal near Adelaide in South Australia and make it free to Hamburg. A large comet was seen this year. Now I shall close. Send the letter to Mrs. Hairie in Hamburg who will forward it. Do enquire of Br. Kathueru the schoolteacher from Schlein his house number and street. May Jesus Christ be with you all. I shall write again soon. EMANUEL KLAR (transcribed by Mike Swift) |
