The Evangelical-Lutheran Mission Society of Dresden, Germany, was founded in 1819. Although its main work involved sending missionaries to India, in 1838 the society sent two missionaries - Pastor Teichelmann and Pastor Schurmann - to South Australia to work with the Aboriginal people. Two years later, in 1840, they were joined by Pastors Meyer and Klose. Much emphasis was placed on the importance of learning indigenous languages. Meyer, in particular, was a gifted language student and produced two publications about the language and customs of the Ngarrindjeri people. Meyer's letters to the Mission Society committee describe in detail his difficulties in speaking to the Aboriginal people about Christianity and establishing a church and school during the eight years he spent amongst the people. The Ngarrindjeri asked him, 'Why do you work? ... Come with us; if you are hungry, catch a fish for yourself, eat and lie down to sleep. If you are hungry again, do the same thing and you will live for a long, long time.' (Kneebone, p. 26)