tosupport
them
;
the
parish
officers
interfered
;
and
the
scandal
was
grievously
aggravated
.
Death
arrived
at
this
juncture
to
carry
away
the
principal
bone
of
contention
.
My
mother
became
dangerously
ill
,
and
after
languishing
in
a
hopeless
condition
for
a
few
weeks
,
breathed
her
last
.
"
Having
thus
stated
the
particulars
of
my
birth
,
it
will
not
be
necessary
to
dwell
on
this
portion
of
my
narrative
.
I
will
only
just
observe
that
,
at
the
death
of
Miss
Ashford
,
a
reconciliation
was
effected
between
my
father
and
his
wife
;
and
that
the
former
contrived
to
maintain
his
post
as
minister
of
the
chapel
—
though
with
a
diminished
flock
,
and
consequently
with
a
decreased
revenue
.
Nevertheless
,
I
obtained
a
smattering
of
education
at
the
school
belonging
to
the
chapel
,
and
was
treated
with
kindness
by
my
father
,
although
with
great
harshness
by
his
wife
.
Thus
continued
matters
until
I
was
fifteen
,
when
my
father
died
;
and
I
was
immediately
thrust
out
of
doors
to
shift
for
myself
.
"
I
was
totally
friendless
.
Vainly
did
I
call
upon
the
deacons
and
elders
of
the
congregation
;
even
those
who
had
adhered
to
my
father
to
the
very
last
,
had
their
eyes
opened
now
that
he
was
no
longer
present
to
reason
with
them
.
They
spurned
me
from
their
doors
;
and
I
was
left
to
beg
or
steal
.
I
chose
the
former
;
but
one
night
I
was
taken
up
by
a
watchman
(
there
were
no
police
in
those
times
)
because
I
was
found
wandering
about
without
being
able
to
give
a
satisfactory
account
of
myself
.
You
may
look
astonished
;
but
I
can
assure
you
that
when
a
poor
devil
says
,
'
I
am
starving
—
houseless
—
friendless
—
pennyless
,
'
it
is
supposed
to
mean
that
he
ca
n't
give
a
satisfactory
account
of
himself
!
In
the
morning
I
was
taken
before
the
magistrate
,
and
committed
to
the
House
of
Correction
as
a
rogue
and
vagabond
.
"
In
prison
I
became
acquainted
with
a
number
of
young
thieves
and
pickpockets
;
and
,
so
desperate
was
my
condition
,
that
when
the
day
of
emancipation
arrived
,
I
was
easily
persuaded
to
join
them
.
Then
commenced
a
career
which
I
would
gladly
recall
—
but
cannot
!
Amongst
my
new
companions
I
obtained
the
nickname
of
'
Crankey
,
'
because
I
was
subject
to
fits
of
deep
despondency
and
remorse
,
so
that
they
fancied
I
was
not
right
in
my
head
.
In
time
I
became
the
most
expert
housebreaker
in
London
—
Tom
the
Cracksman
alone
excepted
.
My
exploits
grew
more
and
more
daring
;
and
on
three
occasions
I
got
into
trouble
.
The
first
and
second
times
I
was
sent
to
the
hulks
.
I
remember
that
on
my
second
trial
a
pal
of
mine
was
acquitted
through
a
flaw
in
the
indictment
.
He
was
charged
with
having
broken
into
and
burglariously
entered
a
jeweller
's
shop
.
It
was
,
however
,
proved
by
one
of
the
prosecutor
's
own
witnesses
that
the
shop
door
had
been
accidentally
left
unlocked
and
unbolted
,
and
that
consequently
he
had
entered
without
any
violence
at
all
.
Thanks
to
the
laws
,
he
escaped
on
that
ground
,
although
judge
and
jury
were
both
convinced
of
his
guilt
.
Time
wore
on
;
and
I
formed
new
acquaintances
in
the
line
to
which
I
was
devoted
.
These
were
Tom
the
Cracksman
,
Bill
Bolter
,
Dick
Flairer
,
the
Buffer
,
and
the
Resurrection
Man
.
With
them
I
accomplished
many
successful
burglaries
;
but
at
length
I
got
into
trouble
a
third
time
,
and
a
stop
was
put
to
my
career
in
London
.
It
was
in
the
year
1835
that
the
Resurrection
Man
and
I
broke
into
a
jeweller
's
shop
in
Princes
Street
,
Soho
.
We
got
off
with
a
good
booty
.
The
Resurrection
Man
went
over
to
the
Mint
:
I
let
Dick
Flairer
into
the
secret
,
gave
him
a
part
of
my
share
in
the
plunder
,
and
then
took
to
a
hiding-place
which
there
is
in
Chick
Lane
,
Smithfield
.
Now
I
knew
that
Dick
was
stanch
to
the
back-bone
;
and
so
he
proved
himself
—
for
he
brought
me
my
food
as
regularly
as
possible
;
and
at
the
end
of
a
week
,
the
storm
had
blown
over
enough
to
enable
me
to
leave
my
hiding-place
.
I
hastened
to
join
the
Resurrection
Man
in
the
Mint
,
where
I
stayed
two
or
three
days
.
Then
the
miscreant
sold
me
,
in
order
to
save
himself
;
and
we
were
both
committed
to
Newgate
.
Tidkins
turned
King
's
Evidence
;
and
I
was
sentenced
to
transportation
for
life
.
The
Resurrection
Man
was
discharged
at
the
termination
of
the
business
of
the
sessions
.
"
Myself
and
several
other
convicts
,
who
were
sentenced
at
the
same
session
,
were
removed
from
Newgate
to
the
Penitentiary
at
Millbank
.
Amongst
the
number
were
two
persons
whose
names
you
may
have
heard
before
,
because
their
case
made
a
great
noise
at
the
time
.
These
were
Robert
Stephens
and
Hugh
Mac
Chizzle
,
who
were
the
principal
parties
concerned
in
a
conspiracy
to
pass
a
certain
Eliza
Sydney
off
as
a
young
man
,
and
defraud
the
Earl
of
Warrington
out
of
a
considerable
property
.
We
remained
about
a
fortnight
in
the
Penitentiary
,
and
were
then
transferred
to
the
convict-ship
at
Woolwich
.
But
before
we
left
Millbank
,
we
were
clothed
in
new
suits
of
grey
,
or
pepper-and-salt
,
as
we
called
the
colour
;
and
we
were
also
ironed
.
The
convict-ship
was
well
arranged
for
its
miserable
purpose
.
On
each
side
of
the
between-decks
were
two
rows
of
sleeping-berths
,
one
above
the
other
:
each
berth
was
about
six
feet
square
,
and
was
calculated
to
hold
four
convicts
,
eighteen
inches
'
space
to
sleep
in
being
considered
ample
room
enough
for
each
individual
.
The
hospital
was
in
the
fore-part
of
the
vessel
,
and
was
separated
from
the
prison
by
means
of
a
bulk-head
,
in
which
partition
there
were
two
strong
doors
,
forming
a
means
of
communication
between
the
two
compartments
.
The
fore
and
main
hatchways
,
between
decks
,
were
fitted
up
with
strong
wooden
stanchions
round
them
;
and
in
each
of
those
stanchions
there
was
a
door
with
three
padlocks
,
to
let
the
convicts
in
and
out
,
and
secure
them
effectually
at
night
.
In
each
hatchway
a
ladder
was
placed
,
for
us
to
go
up
and
down
by
;
and
these
ladders
were
always
pulled
on
deck
after
dusk
.
Scuttle-holes
,
or
small
ports
to
open
and
shut
for
the
admission
of
air
,
were
cut
along
the
vessel
's
sides
;
and
in
the
partition
between
the
prison
and
the
hospital
was
fixed
a
large
stove
,
with
a
funnel
,
which
warmed
and
ventilated
both
compartments
at
the
same
time
.
When
we
were
placed
on
board
the
convict-ship
,
we
had
each
a
pair
of
shoes
,
two
pairs
of
trousers
,
four
shirts
,
and
other
warm
clothing
,
besides
a
bed
,
bolster
,
and
blanket
.
Of
Bibles
,
Testaments
,
and
Prayer-Books
,
there
was
also
plenty
.
"
The
moment
the
surgeon
came
on
board
,
he
arranged
the
mess-berths
and
mess-tables
.
All
the
clothing
,
linen
,
bedding
,
and
other
articles
were
marked
with
consecutive
numerals
in
black
paint
,
from
No.
1.
up
to
the
highest
number
of
convicts
embarked
.
Thus
,
we
messed
and
slept
along
the
prison-deck
in
regular
numerical
progression
.
In
food
we
were
not
stinted
:
each
man
had
three-quarters
of
a
pound
of
biscuit
daily
;
and
every
day
,
too
,
we
sate
down
to
beef
,
pork
,
or
pease-soup
.
Gruel
and
cocoa
were
served
out
for
breakfast
and
supper
.
Every
week
we
received
a
certain
quantity
of
vinegar
,
lime-juice
,
and
sugar
,
which
were
taken
as
preventatives
for
scurvy
.
Each
mess
selected
a
head
,
or
chairman
,
who
saw
the
provisions
weighed
out
,
and
that
justice
was
done
in
this
particular
to
each
individual
at
his
table
.
"
The
surgeon
selected
six
of
the
most
fitting
amongst
the
convicts
to
act
the
part
of
petty
officers
,
whose
duty
it
was
to
see
his
orders
punctually
executed
,
and
to
report
instances
of
misconduct
.
Four
of
these
remained
in
the
prison
;
and
the
other
two
were
stationed
on
deck
,
to
watch
those
convicts
who
came
up
in
their
turns
for
airing
.
The
Captains
of
the
Deck
,
as
the
officers
were
called
,
had
some
little
extra
allowance
for
their
trouble
,
and
were
moreover
allowed
a
certain
quantity
of
tobacco
.
"
It
was
in
January
,
1836
,
that
we
sailed
for
Sydney
.
Although
I
had
no
wife
,
—
no
children
,
—
and
,
I
may
almost
say
,
no
friend
that
I
cared
about
,
—
still
my
heart
sank
within
me
,
when
,
from
the
deck
of
the
convict-ship
,
I
caught
a
last
glimpse
of
the
white
cliffs
of
Old
England
.
Tears
came
into
my
eyes
;
and
I
,
who
had
not
wept
since
childhood
,
wept
then
.
But
there
were
several
of
my
companions
who
had
left
wives
and
children
,
or
parents
,
behind
them
;
and
I
could
read
on
their
countenances
the
anguish
which
filled
their
inmost
souls
!
"
The
surgeon
was
a
kind
and
humane
man
.
The
moment
we
were
out
of
sight
of
land
,
he
ordered
our
chains
to
be
taken
off
;
and
he
allowed
us
to
enjoy
as
much
air
upon
deck
as
we
could
possibly
require
.
The
guard
,
under
the
command
of
a
commissioned
officer
,
consisted
of
thirty-one
men
,
and
did
duty
on
the
quarter-deck
in
three
alternate
watches
.
A
sentry
,
with
a
drawn
cutlass
,
stood
at
each
hatchway
;
and
the
soldiers
on
watch
always
had
their
fire-arms
loaded
.
"
When
we
had
been
to
sea
a
little
time
,
most
of
the
convicts
relapsed
into
their
old
habits
of
swearing
,
lying
,
and
obscene
conversation
.
They
also
gambled
at
pitch
and
toss
,
the
stakes
being
their
rations
.
Thieving
prevailed
to
a
very
great
extent
;
for
the
convict
who
lost
his
dinner
by
gambling
,
was
sure
to
get
one
by
stealing
.
They
would
often
make
wagers
amongst
themselves
as
to
who
was
the
most
expert
thief
;
and
when
the
point
was
put
to
a
practical
test
,
dreadful
quarrels
would
arise
,
the
loser
of
the
wager
,
perhaps
,
discovering
that
he
himself
was
the
victim
of
the
trial
of
skill
,
and
that
his
hoard
of
lime-juice
,
sugar
,
tobacco
,
or
biscuit
had
disappeared
.
Stephens
,
who
was
at
the
same
mess
with
myself
,
did
all
he
could
to
discourage
these
practices
;
but
the
others
pronounced
him
'
a
false
magician
,
'
and
even
his
friend
,
Mac
Chizzle
,
turned
against
him
.
So
at
last
he
gave
up
the
idea
of
introducing
a
reformation
amongst
his
brethren
in
bondage
.
The
fact
is
,
that
any
convict
who
attempts
to
humbug
the
others
by
pretensions
to
honesty
,
or
who
expresses
some
superior
delicacy
of
sentiment
,
which
,
of
course
,
in
many
instances
is
actually
experienced
,
had
better
hang
himself
at
once
.
The
equality
of
the
convict-ship
is
a
frightful
equality
,
—
the
equality
of
crime
,
—
the
levelling
influence
of
villany
,
—
the
abolition
of
all
social
distinctions
by
the
hideous
freemasonry
of
turpitude
and
its
consequent
penalties
!
And
yet
there
is
an
aristocracy
,
even
in
the
prison
of
the
convict-ship
,
—
an
aristocracy
consisting
of
the
oldest
thieves
,
in
contra-distinction
to
the
youngest
;
and
of
townies
,
in
opposition
to
yokels
.
[
21
]
The
deference
paid
by
the
younger
thieves
to
the
elder
ones
is
astonishing
;
and
that
man
who
,
in
relating
his
own
history
,
can
enumerate
the
greatest
number
of
atrocities
,
is
a
king
amongst
convicts
.
Some
of
the
best
informed
of
the
convicts
wrote
slang
journals
during
the
passage
,
and
read
them
once
a-week
to
the
rest
.
They
generally
referred
to
the
sprees
of
the
night
,
and
contained
some
such
entries
as
this
:
—
'
A
peter
cracked
and
frisked
,
while
the
cobbles
dorsed
;
Sawbones
came
and
found
the
glim
doused
;
fadded
the
dobbins
in
a
yokel
's
crib
,
while
he
blew
the
conkey-horn
;
Sawbones
lipped
a
snitch
;
togs
leered
in
yokel
's
downy
;
yokel
screwed
with
the
darbies
.
'
The
exact
meaning
of
this
is
:
—
'
A
chest
broken
open
and
robbed
while
the
convicts
slept
:
surgeon
came
in
and
found
the
lamp
put
out
;
the
thief
thrust
the
clothes
which
he
had
stolen
into
a
countryman
's
berth
,
while
he
was
snoring
fast
asleep
;
the
surgeon
ordered
a
general
search
;
the
clothes
were
found
in
the
countryman
's
bed
;
and
the
countryman
was
put
into
irons
.
'
"
I
must
observe
,
that
while
the
ship
was
still
in
the
Thames
,
none
of
the
convicts
would
admit
that
they
deserved
their
fate
.
They
all
proclaimed
themselves
much-injured
individuals
,
and
declared
that
the
Home
Secretary
was
certain
to
order
a
commutation
of
their
sentence
.
The
usual
declarations
were
these
:
—
'
I
am
sure
never
to
see
New
South
Wales
.
The
prejudice
of
the
judge
against
me
at
the
trial
were
evident
to
all
present
in
the
court
.
The
jury
were
totally
misled
by
his
summing-up
.
My
friends
are
doing
every
thing
they
can
for
me
;
and
I
am
sure
to
get
off
.
'
—
Out
of
a
hundred
and
ten
convicts
,
at
least
a
hundred
spoke
in
this
manner
.
But
the
ship
sailed
,
—
England
was
far
behind
,
—
and
not
one
single
convict
had
his
hopes
of
a
commuted
sentence
gratified
.
Then
,
when
those
hopes
had
disappeared
,
they
all
opened
their
budget
of
gossip
most
freely
,
and
related
their
exploits
in
so
frank
a
manner
,
that
it
was
very
easy
to
perceive
the
justice
of
the
verdicts
which
had
condemned
them
.
"
The
voyage
out
was
,
on
the
whole
,
a
tolerably
fine
one
.
It
lasted
four
months
and
a
half
;
and
it
was
,
consequently
,
in
the
middle
of
May
that
we
arrived
in
sight
of
Sydney
.
But
,
when
thus
at
the
point
of
destination
,
the
sea
became
so
rough
,
and
the
wind
blew
such
'
great
guns
,
'
that
the
captain
declared
there
was
mischief
at
hand
.
The
convicts
were
all
ordered
into
the
prison
,
the
ports
of
which
were
closed
;
and
the
heat
was
stifling
.
The
tempest
came
with
appalling
violence
.
Crash
went
every
loose
thing
on
board
,
—
the
timbers
creaked
as
if
they
would
start
from
their
settings
,
—
the
ropes
rattled
,
—
and
the
wind
whistled
horribly
through
the
rigging
.
The
ship
was
lifted
to
an
immense
height
,
and
then
by
the
fall
of
the
mountain
wave
,
was
plunged
into
the
depths
of
the
trough
of
the
sea
;
—
at
one
moment
dipping
the
studding-sail
boom
into
the
water
,
—
and
the
next
lying
nearly
on
its
beam-ends
on
the
opposite
side
.
I
afterwards
learnt
from
a
sailor
,
that
the
waves
were
forty
feet
high
,
twenty
below
the
ordinary
level
of
the
sea
,
and
twenty
above
it
.
Thus
,
when
we
were
in
the
trough
,
they
were
forty
feet
above
our
heads
!
Towards
evening
the
storm
subsided
;
and
early
next
morning
Sydney
broke
more
clearly
upon
our
view
.
"
Sydney
is
beautifully
situated
.
It
possesses
a
fine
ascent
from
a
noble
harbour
;
and
its
bays
,
its
coves
,
its
gardens
,
its
gentlemen
's
seats
,
form
a
pleasing
spectacle
.
Then
its
forests
of
masts
—
the
Government-house
,
with
its
beautiful
domain
—
the
numerous
wharfs
—
the
thousands
of
boats
upon
the
glassy
water
—
and
Wooloomooloo
,
with
its
charming
villas
and
its
windmills
,
—
all
these
combine
to
enhance
the
interest
of
the
scene
.
The
town
itself
is
far
more
handsome
than
I
had
expected
to
find
it
.
The
shops
are
very
fine
—
particularly
the
silversmiths
'
,
the
haberdashers
'
,
and
confectioners
'
,
which
would
not
disgrace
the
West
End
of
London
.
They
are
mostly
lighted
with
gas
,
and
in
the
evening
have
a
brilliant
appearance
.
There
is
an
astonishing
number
of
grog-shops
—
nearly
two
hundred
and
fifty
,
for
a
population
of
30
,
000
souls
.
George
Street
and
Pitt
Street
are
the
principal
thoroughfares
:
and
the
rents
are
so
high
that
they
average
from
three
to
five
hundred
pounds
a-year
.
There
are
no
common
sewers
in
Sydney
;
and
,
although
the
greater
portion
of
the
town
stands
upon
a
height
,
yet
many
of
the
principal
streets
are
perfectly
level
,
and
the
want
of
a
vent
for
the
foul
water
and
other
impurities
is
sadly
felt
.
I
may
add
,
that
the
first
appearance
of
Sydney
and
its
inhabitants
does
not
impress
a
stranger
with
the
idea
of
being
in
a
country
so
far
away
from
Europe
;
the
language
,
the
manners
,
and
the
dress
of
the
people
being
so
closely
similar
to
those
of
England
.
But
wait
a
little
while
,
and
a
closer
observation
produces
a
different
effect
.
Presently
you
will
see
the
government
gangs
of
convicts
,
marching
backwards
and
forwards
from
their
work
in
single
military
file
,
—
solitary
ones
straggling
here
and
there
,
with
their
white
woollen
Paramatta
frocks
and
trousers
,
or
grey
or
yellow
jackets
with
duck
overalls
,
all
daubed
over
with
broad
arrows
and
initial
letters
to
denote
the
establishment
to
which
they
belong
,
—
and
then
the
gaol-gang
,
moving
sulkily
along
with
their
jingling
leg-chains
,
—
all
these
sad
spectacles
telling
a
tale
of
crime
and
its
effects
,
and
proclaiming
trumpet-tongued
the
narrative
of
human
degradation
!
"
The
ship
entered
the
harbour
;
our
irons
had
already
been
put
on
again
some
days
previously
;
and
we
were
all
landed
under
the
care
of
the
guard
.
We
were
marched
to
the
gaol-yard
;
and
there
our
clothes
were
all
daubed
over
with
broad
arrows
and
the
initials
P.
S.
—
meaning
'
Prisoners
'
Barracks
,
'
to
which
establishment
we
were
conducted
as
soon
as
the
ceremony
of
painting
our
garments
was
completed
.
This
barrack
had
several
large
day-rooms
and
numerous
sleeping
wards
,
the
bedsteads
being
arranged
in
two
tiers
,
or
large
platforms
,
but
without
separation
.
In
every
room
there
was
a
man
in
charge
who
was
answerable
for
the
conduct
of
the
rest
;
but
no
one
ever
thought
of
complaining
of
the
misbehaviour
of
his
companions
.
A
tread-mill
was
attached
to
the
building
:
there
were
moreover
several
solitary
cells
—
a
species
of
punishment
the
horrors
of
which
no
tongue
can
describe
.
"
In
the
course
of
a
few
days
we
were
all
divided
into
sections
,
according
to
the
degrees
of
punishment
which
we
were
to
undergo
.
Stephens
and
Mac
Chizzle
were
kept
at
Sydney
:
I
was
sent
with
some
thirty
others
to
Port
Macquarie
—
a
place
about
two
hundred
and
sixty
miles
,
as
the
crow
flies
,
to
the
north
of
Sydney
.
"
The
scenery
is
magnificent
in
the
neighbourhood
of
Macquarie
Harbour
:
but
the
life
of
the
convict
—
oh
!
that
is
fearful
in
the
extreme
!
I
know
that
I
was
a
great
criminal
—
I
know
that
my
deeds
demanded
a
severe
punishment
;
but
death
had
been
preferable
to
a
doom
like
that
!
Compelled
to
endure
every
kind
of
privation
,
—
shut
out
from
the
rest
of
the
world
,
—
restricted
to
a
very
limited
quantity
of
food
,
which
never
included
fresh
meat
,
—
kept
in
chains
and
under
a
military
guard
with
fixed
bayonets
and
loaded
fire-arms
,
—
with
no
indulgence
for
good
conduct
,
but
severe
penalties
,
even
flogging
or
solitary
confinement
,
for
the
smallest
offences
,
—
constantly
toiling
in
the
wet
,
at
felling
timber
and
rolling
it
to
the
water
,
—
forced
to
support
without
murmuring
the
most
terrible
hardships
,
—
how
did
I
curse
the
day
when
I
rendered
myself
liable
to
the
discipline
of
this
hell
upon
earth
!
I
will
give
you
an
idea
of
the
horrors
of
that
place
:
—
during
the
six
months
that
I
remained
there
,
nineteen
deaths
occurred
amongst
two
hundred
and
twenty
convicts
;
and
of
those
nineteen
,
only
five
were
from
natural
causes
.
Two
were
drowned
,
four
were
killed
by
the
falling
of
trees
,
three
were
shot
by
the
military
,
and
five
were
murdered
by
their
comrades
!
And
why
were
those
murders
perpetrated
?
Because
the
assassins
were
tired
of
life
,
but
had
not
the
courage
to
commit
suicide
;
and
therefore
they
accomplished
crimes
which
were
sure
to
be
visited
by
death
upon
the
scaffold
!
"
The
chain-gang
to
which
I
belonged
was
stationed
at
Philip
's
Creek
;
and
our
business
was
to
supply
timber
for
the
ship-builders
on
Sarah
's
Island
.
We
were
lodged
in
huts
of
the
most
miserable
description
;
and
though
our
toils
were
so
long
and
arduous
,
our
rations
were
scarcely
sufficient
to
keep
body
and
soul
together
.
The
timber
we
cut
was
principally
Huon
pine
;
no
beasts
of
burden
were
allowed
;
and
we
had
to
roll
the
trunks
of
trees
to
an
immense
distance
.
What
with
the
humid
climate
,
the
want
of
fresh
meat
,
and
the
severity
of
the
labour
,
no
man
who
fell
ill
ever
entertained
a
hope
of
recovery
.
Talk
of
the
civilised
notions
of
the
English
—
talk
of
the
humane
principles
of
her
penal
laws
,
—
why
,
the
Inquisition
itself
could
not
have
been
more
horrible
than
the
doom
of
the
convict
at
Macquarie
Harbour
!
Again
I
say
,
it
was
true
that
we
were
great
criminals
;
but
surely
some
adequate
mode
of
punishment
—
some
mode
involving
the
means
of
reformation
—
might
have
been
devised
,
without
the
application
of
so
much
real
physical
torture
!
I
have
heard
or
read
that
when
the
Inquisition
put
its
victims
to
the
rack
,
it
afterwards
remanded
them
to
their
dungeons
,
and
allowed
them
leisure
to
recover
and
be
cured
;
—
but
in
the
penal
settlement
of
Port
Macquarie
those
tortures
were
renewed
daily
—
and
they
killed
the
miserable
sufferers
by
inches
!
"
Our
rations
consisted
daily
of
one
pound
and
a
half
of
flour
,
from
which
twelve
per
cent
.
of
bran
had
been
subtracted
,
one
pound
and
a
half
of
salt
meat
,
and
half
an
ounce
of
soap
.
No
tea
—
no
vegetables
.
The
flour
was
made
into
cakes
called
damper
,
cooked
in
a
frying-pan
;
and
this
wasteful
mode
of
preparing
it
greatly
diminished
its
quantity
.
Besides
,
divide
those
rations
into
three
parts
,
and
you
will
find
that
the
three
meals
are
little
enough
for
men
toiling
hard
from
sunrise
to
sunset
.
The
convict
who
did
not
keep
a
good
look-out
on
his
provisions
was
certain
to
be
robbed
by
his
comrades
;
and
some
men
have
been
plundered
to
such
an
extent
as
actually
to
have
been
on
the
very
verge
of
starvation
.
"
I
had
not
been
at
Macquarie
Harbour
more
than
five
months
,
when
Stephens
and
Mac
Chizzle
arrived
,
and
were
added
to
our
chain-gang
.
This
punishment
they
had
incurred
for
having
endeavoured
to
escape
from
Sydney
,
where
they
had
been
treated
with
some
indulgence
,
in
consequence
of
their
station
in
life
previous
to
their
sentence
in
England
.
So
miserable
was
I
,
with
hard
work
and
scanty
food
,
that
I
resolved
to
leave
the
place
,
or
perish
in
the
attempt
.
I
communicated
my
design
to
Stephens
and
Mac
Chizzle
;
and
they
agreed
to
accompany
me
.
Escape
from
Macquarie
was
known
to
be
a
most
difficult
undertaking
;
and
few
convicts
who
essayed
it
were
ever
able
to
reach
the
settlements
in
other
parts
of
the
Colony
.
They
were
either
murdered
by
their
comrades
for
a
supply
of
food
,
or
perished
in
the
bush
.
Formidable
forests
had
to
be
traversed
;
and
the
chance
of
catching
kangaroos
was
the
only
prospect
of
obtaining
the
means
of
existence
.
Nevertheless
,
I
resolved
to
dare
all
those
horrors
and
fearful
risks
,
rather
than
remain
at
Philip
's
Creek
.
Five
or
six
others
,
in
addition
to
Stephens
and
Mac
Chizzle
,
agreed
to
adopt
this
desperate
venture
with
me
;
and
one
night
we
stole
away
—
to
the
number
of
ten
—
from
the
huts
.
"
Yes
—
we
thus
set
out
on
this
tremendous
undertaking
,
each
individual
possessing
no
more
food
than
was
sufficient
for
a
single
meal
.
And
ere
the
sun
rose
all
our
store
was
consumed
;
and
we
found
ourselves
in
the
middle
of
a
vast
forest
—
without
a
guide
—
without
victuals
—
almost
without
a
hope
!
Convicts
are
not
the
men
to
cheer
each
other
:
misfortunes
have
made
them
selfish
,
brutal
,
and
sulky
.
We
toiled
on
in
comparative
silence
.
One
of
my
companions
,
who
had
been
ten
years
at
Macquarie
Harbour
,
was
well
acquainted
with
the
mode
in
which
the
natives
search
for
traces
of
the
opossum
;
and
,
when
hunger
began
to
press
upon
us
,
he
examined
every
tree
with
a
hollow
limb
,
and
also
the
adjacent
trees
for
marks
of
the
opossum
's
claws
.
For
,
I
must
tell
you
,
that
this
animal
is
so
sagacious
,
that
it
usually
runs
up
a
neighbouring
tree
and
thence
jumps
to
the
one
wherein
its
retreat
is
,
in
order
to
avoid
being
traced
.
The
convict
to
whom
I
have
alluded
,
and
whose
name
was
Blackley
,
at
length
discovered
the
trail
of
an
opossum
,
and
clambered
up
the
tree
in
which
its
hole
was
found
,
by
means
of
successive
notches
in
the
bark
,
to
place
the
great
toe
in
.
Having
reached
the
hole
,
he
probed
it
with
a
long
stick
,
and
found
that
there
actually
was
an
opossum
within
.
Thrusting
in
his
hand
,
he
seized
the
animal
by
the
tail
,
pulled
it
out
,
and
killed
it
by
a
swinging
dash
against
the
trunk
of
a
tree
.
But
this
was
little
enough
among
so
many
.
We
,
however
,
made
a
fire
,
cooked
it
,
and
thus
contrived
just
to
mitigate
the
terrible
cravings
of
hunger
.
The
flesh
of
the
opossum
is
like
that
of
a
rabbit
,
and
is
therefore
too
delicate
to
enable
a
hearty
appetite
to
make
a
good
meal
on
a
tenth
portion
of
so
small
an
animal
.
"
On
the
following
day
Blackley
managed
to
kill
a
kangaroo
,
weighing
about
sixty
pounds
;
and
thus
we
were
supplied
with
food
for
three
or
four
days
,
acting
economically
.
The
flesh
of
the
kangaroo
is
much
like
venison
,
and
is
very
fine
eating
.
We
continued
our
way
amidst
the
forest
,
which
appeared
endless
;
and
in
due
time
the
kangaroo
's
flesh
was
consumed
.
Blackley
was
unwearied
in
his
exertions
to
provide
more
food
;
and
,
so
much
time
was
wasted
in
these
endeavours
,
that
we
made
but
little
progress
in
our
journey
.
And
now
,
to
our
terror
,
Blackley
could
find
no
more
opossums
—
could
kill
no
more
kangaroos
.
We
grew
desperate
:
starvation
was
before
us
.
Moody
—
sulky
—
glaring
on
each
other
with
a
horribly
significant
ferocity
,
we
dragged
ourselves
along
.
Four
days
elapsed
—
and
not
a
mouthful
of
food
had
we
touched
.
On
the
fifth
night
we
made
a
fire
,
and
sate
round
it
at
considerable
distances
from
each
other
.
We
all
endeavoured
to
remain
awake
:
we
trembled
at
the
approach
of
drowsiness
—
for
we
knew
the
consequences
of
sleep
in
our
desperate
condition
.
There
we
sate
—
none
uttering
a
word
,
—
with
cracked
and
bloody
lips
—
parched
throats
—
eyes
glowing
with
cannibal
fires
,
—
our
minds
a
prey
to
the
most
appalling
thoughts
.
At
length
Mac
Chizzle
,
the
lawyer
,
fell
back
in
a
sound
slumber
,
having
no
doubt
found
it
impossible
to
bear
up
against
the
weariness
which
was
creeping
over
him
.
Then
Blackley
rose
,
and
went
farther
into
the
wood
.
It
required
no
ghost
to
tell
us
that
he
had
gone
to
cut
a
club
for
a
horrible
purpose
.
The
most
breathless
silence
prevailed
.
At
length
there
was
a
strange
rustling
amongst
the
trees
at
a
little
distance
;
and
then
cries
of
indescribable
agony
fell
upon
our
ears
.
These
tokens
of
distress
were
in
the
voice
of
Blackley
,
who
called
us
by
name
,
one
after
another
.
A
vague
idea
of
the
real
truth
rivetted
us
to
the
spot
;
and
in
a
short
time
the
cries
ceased
altogether
.
Oh
!
what
a
night
of
horror
was
that
!
An
hour
had
elapsed
since
Blackley
's
disappearance
;
and
we
had
ceased
to
trouble
ourselves
concerning
his
fate
:
—
our
own
intolerable
cravings
for
food
were
the
sole
objects
of
our
thoughts
.
Nor
was
Mac
Chizzle
doomed
to
escape
death
.
A
convict
named
Felton
determined
to
execute
the
purpose
which
Blackley
had
entertained
—
though
in
a
different
manner
.
Afraid
to
venture
away
from
the
party
to
cut
a
bludgeon
,
he
drew
a
large
clasp-knife
from
his
pocket
,
and
plunged
the
long
sharp
blade
into
the
breast
of
the
sleeper
.
A
cry
of
horror
burst
from
Stephens
and
myself
;
and
we
rushed
forward
—
now
that
it
was
unfortunately
too
late
—
to
save
the
victim
.
We
were
well
aware
of
the
man
's
intentions
when
he
approached
his
victim
;
but
it
was
not
until
the
blow
was
struck
that
we
had
the
courage
to
interfere
.
It
was
,
however
,
as
I
have
said
—
too
late
!
Mac
Chizzle
expired
without
a
groan
.
"
I
cannot
dwell
upon
this
scene
:
depraved
—
wicked
—
criminal
as
I
was
in
many
respects
,
my
soul
revolted
from
the
idea
of
cannibalism
,
now
that
the
opportunity
of
appeasing
my
hunger
by
such
horrible
means
was
within
my
reach
.
Stephens
and
I
retired
a
little
from
the
rest
,
and
turned
our
backs
upon
the
frightful
work
that
was
in
progress
.
Again
I
say
—
oh
!
the
horrors
of
that
night
!
I
was
starving
—
and
food
was
near
.
But
what
food
?
The
flesh
of
a
fellow-creature
!
In
imagination
I
followed
the
entire
process
that
was
in
operation
so
close
behind
me
;
and
presently
the
hissing
of
the
flesh
upon
the
embers
,
and
the
odour
of
the
awful
cookery
,
convinced
me
that
the
meal
would
soon
be
served
up
.
Then
how
did
I
wrestle
with
my
own
inclinations
!
And
Stephens
,
I
could
well
perceive
,
was
also
engaged
in
a
terrific
warfare
with
the
promptings
of
hunger
.
But
we
resisted
the
temptation
:
yes
—
we
resisted
it
;
—
and
our
companions
did
not
trouble
themselves
to
invite
us
to
their
repast
.
"
At
length
the
morning
dawned
upon
that
awful
and
never-to-be-forgotten
night
.
The
fire
was
now
extinguished
;
but
near
the
ashes
lay
the
entrails
and
the
head
of
the
murdered
man
.
The
cannibals
had
completely
anatomised
the
corpse
,
and
had
wrapped
up
in
their
shirts
(
which
they
took
off
for
the
purpose
)
all
that
they
chose
to
carry
away
with
them
.
Not
a
word
was
spoken
amongst
us
.
The
last
frail
links
of
sympathy
—
if
any
really
had
existed
—
seemed
to
have
been
broken
by
the
incidents
of
the
preceding
night
.
Six
men
had
partaken
of
the
horrible
repast
;
and
they
evidently
looked
on
each
other
with
loathing
,
and
on
Stephens
and
myself
with
suspicion
.
We
all
with
one
accord
cut
thick
sticks
,
and
advanced
in
the
direction
whence
Blackley
's
cries
had
proceeded
a
few
hours
previously
.
His
fate
was
that
which
we
had
suspected
:
an
enormous
snake
was
coiled
around
the
wretch
's
corpse
—
licking
it
with
its
long
tongue
,
to
cover
it
with
saliva
for
the
purpose
of
deglutition
.
We
attacked
the
monstrous
reptile
,
and
killed
it
.
Its
huge
coils
had
actually
squeezed
our
unfortunate
comrade
to
death
!
Then
—
for
the
first
time
for
many
,
many
years
—
did
a
religious
sentiment
steal
into
my
soul
;
and
I
murmured
to
myself
:
'
Surely
this
was
the
judgment
of
God
upon
a
man
who
had
meditated
murder
.
'
"
That
same
day
Stephens
and
myself
gave
our
companions
the
slip
,
and
struck
into
another
direction
together
.
We
were
fortunate
enough
to
kill
a
kangaroo
;
and
we
made
a
hearty
meal
upon
a
portion
of
its
flesh
.
Then
how
did
we
rejoice
that
we
had
withstood
the
temptation
of
the
cannibal
banquet
!
Stephens
fell
upon
his
knees
and
prayed
aloud
:
I
imitated
his
example
—
I
joined
in
his
thanksgiving
.
We
husbanded
our
resources
as
much
as
possible
;
and
God
was
merciful
to
us
.
We
succeeded
in
killing
another
kangaroo
,
even
before
the
first
was
entirely
consumed
;
and
this
new
supply
enabled
us
to
reach
a
settlement
without
further
experiencing
the
pangs
of
hunger
.
Prudence
now
compelled
us
to
separate
;
for
though
we
had
rid
ourselves
of
our
chains
,
we
were
still
in
our
convict
garb
;
and
it
was
evident
that
two
persons
so
clad
were
more
likely
to
attract
unpleasant
notice
,
than
one
individual
skulking
about
by
himself
.
We
accordingly
parted
;
and
from
that
moment
I
have
never
heard
of
Stephens
.
Whether
he
succeeded
in
escaping
from
the
colony
altogether
,
or
whether
he
took
to
the
bush
again
and
perished
,
I
know
not
:
—
that
he
was
not
retaken
I
am
sure
,
because
,
were
he
captured
,
he
would
have
been
sent
to
Norfolk
Island
;
and
that
he
did
not
visit
that
most
horrible
of
all
the
penal
settlements
—
at
least
during
a
period
of
eighteen
months
after
our
escape
from
Macquarie
—
I
am
well
aware
,
for
reasons
which
I
shall
soon
explain
.
"
In
fact
,
I
was
not
long
at
large
after
I
separated
with
Stephens
.
My
convict-dress
betrayed
me
to
a
party
of
soldiers
:
I
was
arrested
,
taken
to
Sydney
,
tried
,
and
sentenced
to
transportation
to
Norfolk
Island
.
Before
I
left
England
in
1836
,
and
since
my
return
towards
the
end
of
1839
,
I
have
heard
a
great
many
persons
talk
about
Norfolk
Island
;
but
no
one
seemed
to
know
much
about
it
.
I
will
therefore
tell
you
something
concerning
it
now
.
"
A
thousand
miles
to
the
eastward
of
Sydney
there
are
three
islands
close
together
.
As
you
advance
towards
them
in
a
ship
from
Sydney
,
Philip
Island
,
which
is
very
high
land
,
and
has
a
bold
peak
to
the
south
,
comes
in
view
:
close
beyond
it
the
lower
hills
of
Norfolk
Island
,
crowned
with
lofty
pines
,
appear
in
sight
;
and
between
those
two
islands
is
a
small
and
sterile
speck
called
Nepean
Island
.
Norfolk
Island
is
six
miles
and
a
half
long
,
and
four
broad
—
a
miserable
dot
in
the
ocean
compared
to
the
vast
tract
of
Australia
.
The
soil
is
chiefly
basaltic
,
and
rises
into
hills
covered
with
grass
and
forest
.
Mount
Pitt
—
the
loftiest
eminence
in
the
island
—
is
twelve
hundred
feet
above
the
level
of
the
sea
.
The
Norfolk
Island
pine
shoots
to
a
height
of
a
hundred
feet
,
—
sometimes
growing
in
clumps
,
elsewhere
singly
,
on
the
grassy
parts
of
the
island
,
even
to
the
very
verge
of
the
shore
,
where
its
roots
are
washed
by
the
sea
at
high
water
.
The
apple-fruited
guava
,
the
lemon
,
grapes
,
figs
,
coffee
,
olives
,
pomegranates
,
strawberries
,
and
melons
have
been
introduced
,
and
are
cultivated
successfully
.
The
island
is
every
where
inaccessible
,
save
at
an
opening
in
a
low
reef
fronting
the
little
bay
;
and
that
is
the
point
where
the
settlement
is
situated
.
The
Prisoners
'
Barracks
are
pretty
much
upon
the
same
plan
as
those
at
Sydney
,
and
which
I
described
to
you
just
now
.
There
is
a
room
,
called
the
Court-House
,
where
the
Protestant
prisoners
meet
on
Sunday
to
hear
prayers
;
and
there
is
another
,
called
the
Lumber-Yard
room
,
for
the
Roman
Catholics
.
The
prayers
in
both
places
are
read
by
prisoners
.
The
principal
buildings
in
the
settlement
are
the
Commandant
's
Residence
,
the
Military
Barracks
,
the
Penitentiary
,
the
Gaol
,
and
the
Hospital
.
The
convicts
are
principally
employed
in
quarrying
stone
;
and
as
no
gunpowder
is
used
in
blasting
the
rocks
,
and
the
stone
is
raised
by
means
of
levers
,
the
labour
is
even
more
crushing
than
that
of
wood-felling
at
Port
Macquarie
.
The
prisoners
,
moreover
,
have
to
work
in
irons
;
and
the
food
is
not
only
insufficient
,
but
bad
—
consisting
only
of
dry
maize
bread
and
hard
salt
meat
.
Were
it
not
for
the
supply
of
wild
fruits
in
the
island
,
the
scurvy
would
rage
like
a
pestilence
.
Between
Macquarie
Harbour
and
Norfolk
Island
I
can
only
draw
this
distinction
—
that
the
former
is
Purgatory
,
and
the
latter
Hell
!
"
There
is
no
attempt
to
reform
the
prisoners
in
Norfolk
Island
,
beyond
prayer-reading
—
and
this
is
of
scarcely
any
benefit
.
The
convicts
are
too
depraved
to
be
amended
by
mere
moral
lessons
:
they
want
education
;
they
require
to
be
treated
like
human
beings
,
instead
of
brute
beasts
,
criminal
though
they
are
;
they
need
a
sufficiency
of
wholesome
food
,
to
enable
them
to
toil
with
something
approaching
a
good
will
;
they
ought
to
be
protected
against
the
tyranny
of
overseers
,
who
send
them
to
gaol
for
the
most
trivial
offences
,
or
on
the
slightest
suspicions
;
they
should
not
be
forced
to
labour
in
chains
which
gall
their
ankles
almost
to
the
bone
,
when
a
guard
with
loaded
muskets
is
ever
near
,
and
seeing
that
shackles
on
the
legs
would
not
prevent
violence
with
the
hands
were
they
inclined
to
have
recourse
to
it
;
nor
should
they
be
constantly
treated
as
if
they
were
merely
wild
beasts
whom
it
is
impossible
to
tame
save
by
means
of
privation
,
heart-breaking
toil
,
and
the
constant
sense
of
utter
degradation
.
How
can
men
be
redeemed
—
reclaimed
—
reformed
by
such
treatment
as
this
?
Let
punishment
be
terrible
—
not
horrible
.
It
is
monstrous
to
endeavour
to
render
the
criminal
more
obstinate
—
to
make
the
dangerous
one
more
ferocious
—
to
crush
in
the
soul
every
inducement
to
amend
—
to
convert
vice
into
hardened
recklessness
.
The
tortures
of
semi-starvation
and
overwhelming
toil
,
and
the
system
of
retaining
men
's
minds
in
a
state
of
moral
abasement
and
degradation
in
their
own
eyes
,
will
never
lead
to
reform
.
When
at
Macquarie
Harbour
,
or
at
Norfolk
Island
,
I
have
often
thought
how
comparatively
easy
it
would
be
to
reclaim
even
the
very
worst
among
the
convicts
.
Teach
them
practically
that
while
there
is
life
there
is
hope
,
—
that
it
is
never
too
late
to
repent
,
—
that
man
can
show
mercy
to
the
greatest
sinner
,
even
as
God
does
,
—
that
the
most
degraded
mind
may
rise
from
the
depths
of
its
abasement
,
—
that
society
seeks
reformation
and
prevention
in
respect
to
crime
,
and
not
vengeance
,
—
that
the
Christian
religion
,
in
a
word
,
exists
in
the
heart
as
well
as
in
a
book
.
But
what
sentiments
do
the
convicts
entertain
?
They
are
taught
,
by
oppressive
treatment
,
to
lose
sight
of
their
own
turpitude
,
and
therefore
to
consider
that
all
mankind
is
bent
on
inflicting
a
demoniac
vengeance
upon
them
;
—
they
look
upon
the
authorities
as
their
persecutors
;
—
they
begin
to
fancy
that
they
are
worms
which
are
justified
in
turning
on
those
who
tread
them
under
foot
;
—
they
swear
,
and
blaspheme
,
and
talk
obscenely
,
merely
because
there
is
no
earthly
solace
left
them
save
in
hardening
their
own
hearts
against
all
kindly
sympathies
and
emotions
;
—
they
receive
the
Word
of
God
with
suspicion
,
because
man
does
not
practically
help
them
to
a
belief
in
the
divine
assurance
relative
to
the
efficacy
of
repentance
;
—
they
are
compelled
by
terrific
and
unceasing
hardships
to
look
upon
the
tears
of
a
contrite
heart
as
the
proofs
of
moral
weakness
:
—
and
,
in
a
word
,
they
study
how
to
avoid
reflections
which
can
lead
,
so
far
as
they
can
see
,
to
no
beneficial
end
.
They
therefore
welcome
hardness
of
heart
,
obstinacy
,
and
recklessness
of
disposition
as
an
actual
means
of
escape
from
thoughts
which
would
,
under
favourable
circumstances
,
lead
to
moral
amendment
and
reformation
.
"
You
may
be
surprised
to
hear
such
ideas
from
my
lips
;
but
I
have
pondered
much
and
often
upon
this
subject
.
And
if
ever
these
words
which
I
am
now
uttering
to
you
,
Henry
Holford
,
should
find
their
way
into
print
,
—
if
ever
my
narrative
,
with
its
various
reflections
,
should
go
forth
to
the
world
,
—
be
you
well
assured
that
these
ideas
will
set
people
thinking
on
the
grand
point
—
whether
society
punishes
to
prevent
crime
and
to
reclaim
the
offender
,
or
merely
to
avenge
itself
upon
him
?
"
My
own
prospects
were
gloomy
enough
.
My
life
was
to
be
passed
in
exile
,
misery
,
and
torture
.
I
loathed
my
associates
.
They
took
all
possible
pains
to
tease
and
annoy
each
other
.
They
converted
a
beautiful
spot
—
one
of
the
loveliest
islands
in
the
world
—
into
a
perfect
hell
upon
earth
;
—
and
seemed
determined
to
supply
any
deficiency
which
the
authorities
had
left
in
the
sum
of
our
unhappiness
.
They
concocted
various
schemes
of
mischief
,
and
then
the
most
hardened
would
betray
their
comrades
merely
for
the
pleasure
of
seeing
them
flogged
!
I
never
shall
forget
a
convict
saying
to
me
one
day
,
'
I
doubt
the
existence
of
a
God
;
but
I
wish
,
if
there
is
one
,
that
he
would
take
away
my
life
,
for
I
am
so
very
miserable
.
I
have
only
six
years
more
to
serve
;
and
I
am
determined
either
to
escape
,
or
to
murder
some
one
and
get
hanged
for
it
.
'
—
This
man
's
name
was
Anson
;
and
from
that
moment
he
and
I
had
frequent
conversations
together
relative
to
an
escape
from
the
island
.
But
how
few
were
our
hopes
?
Surrounded
by
the
ocean
—
pent
up
in
so
narrow
a
space
,
as
it
were
—
so
distant
from
all
other
lands
—
fearful
to
confide
in
our
companions
—
and
unable
to
carry
our
scheme
into
effect
without
assistance
,
we
were
frequently
induced
to
give
it
up
in
despair
.
"
Not
very
far
from
the
Commandant
's
house
was
a
singular
little
cave
,
hollowed
in
the
rugged
limestone
that
forms
two
low
hills
,
—
the
flat
and
the
reef
on
the
south
of
the
island
.
This
cave
was
near
a
lime-kiln
,
and
was
concealed
by
a
stone
drawn
over
its
mouth
.
I
had
been
nearly
eighteen
months
on
the
island
,
(
during
which
time
,
as
I
before
said
,
Stephens
was
not
sent
to
join
the
gangs
;
and
therefore
I
concluded
that
he
either
perished
in
Australia
,
or
effected
his
escape
to
Europe
,
)
—
eighteen
months
,
I
say
,
had
elapsed
,
when
Anson
and
I
were
one
day
at
work
in
the
lime-kiln
,
with
a
small
gang
.
When
the
mid-day
meal-time
came
,
he
and
I
strolled
apart
from
the
rest
;
and
none
of
the
sentries
took
any
notice
of
us
,
because
escape
from
that
point
in
the
broad
day-light
was
impossible
.
As
we
were
walking
along
and
conversing
,
we
discovered
the
cave
.
This
circumstance
gave
a
new
impulse
to
our
ideas
,
and
to
our
hopes
of
an
escape
;
and
a
few
days
afterwards
,
we
put
our
plan
into
execution
.
We
enlisted
two
other
convicts
in
the
scheme
,
—
two
men
in
whom
we
imagined
that
more
confidence
was
to
be
placed
than
in
any
of
the
rest
.
By
their
aid
we
contrived
to
purloin
at
dusk
a
sack
of
biscuits
;
and
this
we
conveyed
to
the
cave
.
On
the
next
night
one
of
our
new
accomplices
contrived
to
rob
a
small
house
of
entertainment
for
seamen
,
of
three
suits
of
sailors
'
clothes
;
and
these
were
conveyed
to
the
cave
.
Our
plans
were
now
all
matured
.
A
small
decked
yacht
,
cutter-rigged
,
and
belonging
to
the
Commandant
,
lay
close
by
the
shore
;
and
we
knew
that
there
were
only
a
man
and
a
boy
on
board
at
that
time
.
Our
project
was
a
desperate
one
;
but
the
risk
was
worth
running
,
seeing
the
result
to
be
gained
—
namely
,
our
freedom
.
When
our
arrangements
were
completed
,
we
all
four
one
evening
absconded
as
we
were
returning
home
from
the
day
's
toils
,
and
took
refuge
in
the
cave
.
No
time
was
to
be
lost
.
About
midnight
,
Anson
and
I
swam
off
to
the
yacht
,
contrived
to
get
on
board
,
seized
each
a
windlass-bar
,
and
,
descending
to
the
cabin
,
mastered
the
man
and
the
boy
.
We
bound
them
in
such
a
way
that
they
could
not
leave
their
hammocks
;
and
then
we
fastened
down
the
hatchway
to
drown
their
cries
in
case
they
should
shout
for
assistance
.
We
next
lowered
the
little
skiff
,
and
returned
to
land
.
Our
companions
joined
us
,
with
the
bag
of
biscuit
and
the
clothes
,
at
a
point
previously
agreed
upon
;
and
we
all
succeeded
in
reaching
the
cutter
in
safety
.
Then
we
set
sail
;
and
,
favoured
by
the
darkness
of
the
night
,
got
clear
away
without
having
excited
on
shore
a
suspicion
that
the
yacht
had
moved
from
its
moorings
.
"
As
we
had
conjectured
,
there
was
very
little
provision
on
board
;
for
the
Commandant
never
used
the
yacht
for
more
than
a
few
hours
'
trip
at
a
time
.
We
had
therefore
done
wisely
to
provide
the
biscuit
;
but
there
was
not
two
days
'
supply
of
meat
on
board
.
We
accordingly
steered
for
the
back
of
Philip
Island
,
which
we
knew
to
abound
in
pigs
and
goats
,
and
to
be
uninhabited
by
man
.
Anson
and
another
of
our
companions
went
on
shore
with
fire-arms
,
which
we
had
found
in
the
cutter
;
and
within
two
hours
after
day-light
they
shot
four
pigs
and
thirteen
goats
.
Myself
and
the
other
convict
,
who
remained
on
board
to
take
care
of
the
vessel
and
guard
the
seaman
and
the
boy
,
caught
several
king-fish
and
rock-cod
.
We
were
thus
well
provisioned
;
and
another
trip
to
the
shore
filled
our
water-casks
.
We
next
proposed
to
the
seaman
and
boy
either
to
join
us
,
or
to
take
the
skiff
and
return
to
Norfolk
Island
as
best
they
might
.
They
preferred
the
latter
offer
;
and
we
accordingly
suffered
them
to
depart
,
after
compelling
the
sailor
to
exchange
his
clothes
for
one
of
our
convict
suits
;
so
that
we
had
now
a
proper
garb
each
.
In
their
presence
we
had
talked
of
running
for
New
Caledonia
—
an
Island
to
the
north
of
Norfolk
Island
;
but
the
moment
they
were
gone
,
we
set
sail
for
New
Zealand
,
which
is
precisely
in
a
contrary
direction
—
being
to
the
south
of
Norfolk
Island
.
Our
craft
was
but
little
better
than
a
cockle-boat
:
it
was
,
however
,
decked
;
fine
weather
prevailed
;
and
moreover
,
it
was
better
to
die
by
drowning
than
perish
by
the
gradual
tortures
of
a
penal
settlement
.
"
We
were
in
sight
of
New
Zealand
,
when
a
fearful
storm
came
on
suddenly
at
an
early
hour
on
the
thirteenth
morning
after
we
had
quitted
Norfolk
Island
.
A
tremendous
sea
broke
over
our
little
craft
,
and
washed
poor
Anson
over-board
.
The
other
two
convicts
and
myself
did
all
we
could
to
save
the
vessel
,
and
run
her
into
a
bay
which
we
now
descried
in
the
distance
;
but
our
inexperience
in
nautical
matters
was
put
to
a
severe
test
.
When
our
condition
was
apparently
hopeless
,
and
we
expected
that
the
sea
would
swallow
us
up
,
a
large
bark
hove
in
sight
.
We
made
signals
of
distress
;
and
the
vessel
steered
towards
us
.
But
a
mountainous
wave
struck
the
stern
of
the
cutter
,
and
stove
in
her
timbers
.
She
immediately
began
to
fill
.
We
cut
away
the
boom
,
and
clung
to
it
as
to
a
last
hope
.
The
vessel
went
down
;
and
,
small
as
it
was
,
it
formed
a
vortex
which
for
a
few
moments
sucked
us
under
,
spar
and
all
.
But
we
rose
again
to
the
surface
,
clinging
desperately
to
the
boom
.
Suddenly
one
of
my
comrades
uttered
a
fearful
cry
—
a
cry
of
such
wild
agony
that
it
rings
in
my
ears
every
time
I
think
of
that
horrible
incident
.
I
glanced
towards
him
:
the
water
was
for
an
instant
tinged
with
blood
—
a
shark
had
bitten
off
one
of
the
wretched
man
's
legs
!
Oh
!
what
an
agony
of
fear
I
experienced
then
.
The
poor
creature
continued
to
shriek
in
an
appalling
manner
for
a
few
seconds
:
then
he
loosened
his
hold
upon
the
spar
,
and
disappeared
in
the
raging
element
.
My
only
surviving
companion
and
myself
exchanged
looks
of
unutterable
horror
.
"
We
were
drifting
rapidly
in
the
direction
of
the
bark
,
which
on
its
side
was
advancing
towards
us
.
When
within
hail
,
it
lowered
a
boat
.
But
I
was
destined
to
be
the
only
survivor
of
the
four
convicts
who
had
escaped
from
Norfolk
Island
.
When
only
a
few
yards
from
the
boat
,
my
companion
suddenly
relaxed
his
hold
upon
the
spar
,
and
sank
with
a
loud
cry
—
to
rise
no
more
.
The
water
was
not
tinged
with
blood
—
and
therefore
I
do
not
suppose
that
he
was
attacked
by
a
shark
:
most
probably
a
sudden
cramp
seized
him
;
—
but
,
whatever
the
cause
,
he
perished
!
I
was
dragged
in
an
exhausted
state
into
the
boat
,
and
was
speedily
safe
on
board
the
bark
.
"
The
vessel
was
a
trading
one
,
and
bound
for
Hobart
Town
,
whence
it
was
to
sail
for
England
.
I
gave
so
plausible
an
account
of
the
shipwrecked
cutter
,
that
the
real
truth
was
not
suspected
,
especially
as
I
was
attired
in
a
sailor
's
dress
;
and
as
the
bark
was
not
to
remain
many
days
at
Hobart
Town
,
where
,
moreover
,
I
was
not
known
,
I
entertained
the
most
sanguine
hopes
of
being
able
to
ensure
my
safe
return
to
England
.
In
three
weeks
,
—
after
encountering
much
bad
weather
—
we
entered
the
Derwent
;
and
,
taking
in
a
pilot
,
were
carried
safe
up
to
Sullivan
's
Cove
.
"
Hobart
Town
is
the
capital
of
Van
Diemen
's
Land
,
and
is
beautifully
placed
on
the
banks
of
an
estuary
called
the
Derwent
.
The
streets
are
spacious
:
the
houses
are
built
of
brick
;
and
the
roofs
,
covered
with
shingles
,
have
the
appearance
of
being
slated
.
Mount
Wellington
rises
behind
the
town
to
the
height
of
4000
feet
,
and
is
almost
entirely
clothed
with
forests
.
There
is
in
Hobart
Town
a
spacious
House
of
Correction
for
females
:
it
is
called
the
Factory
,
and
contained
at
that
time
about
two
hundred
and
fifty
prisoners
.
They
were
employed
in
picking
and
spinning
wool
,
and
in
washing
for
the
Hospital
,
Orphan-School
,
and
other
institutions
.
The
women
were
dressed
in
a
prison
garb
,
and
had
their
hair
cut
close
,
which
they
naturally
considered
a
grievous
infliction
of
tyranny
.
When
they
misbehaved
themselves
,
they
were
put
into
solitary
confinement
;
and
I
heard
that
many
of
them
had
gone
raving
mad
while
enduring
that
horrible
mental
torture
.
I
saw
a
chain-gang
of
a
hundred
and
ten
convicts
,
employed
in
raising
a
causeway
across
a
muddy
flat
in
the
Derwent
:
they
looked
miserably
unhealthy
,
pale
,
and
emaciated
,
being
half-starved
,
over-worked
,
and
compelled
to
drink
very
bad
water
.
The
Government-House
is
a
fine
building
,
on
the
banks
of
the
Derwent
,
and
about
a
mile
from
the
town
.
The
Penitentiary
at
Hobart
Town
contains
about
six
hundred
prisoners
,
and
is
the
principal
receptacle
for
newly-arrived
convicts
.
They
are
sent
out
in
gangs
,
under
overseers
and
guards
,
to
work
on
the
roads
,
or
as
carpenters
,
builders
,
sawyers
,
or
masons
,
in
the
various
departments
.
"
After
remaining
almost
a
fortnight
at
Hobart
Town
,
the
bark
sailed
for
England
,
by
way
of
Cape
Horn
;
and
I
was
now
relieved
from
all
fears
of
detection
—
at
least
for
the
present
.
As
I
have
spoken
of
the
condition
of
the
female
convicts
in
Hobart
Town
,
I
may
as
well
give
you
some
account
of
how
transportation
affects
women
;
for
you
may
be
sure
that
I
heard
enough
of
that
subject
both
at
Sydney
and
at
Macquarie
Harbour
.
A
female-convict
ship
is
fitted
up
on
precisely
the
same
plan
as
that
of
the
men
,
with
the
addition
of
shelves
whereon
to
stow
away
the
tea-crockery
.
The
women
's
rations
are
the
same
as
the
men
's
,
with
the
extra
comforts
of
tea
and
sugar
.
This
they
have
for
breakfast
,
and
oatmeal
for
supper
.
No
guard
of
soldiers
is
required
on
board
:
nor
is
there
a
bulk-head
across
the
upper
deck
in
mid-ships
.
Instead
of
captains
of
the
vessel
,
there
are
matrons
appointed
by
the
surgeon
to
take
care
of
the
morals
of
the
rest
;
and
these
matrons
are
usually
old
brothel-keepers
or
procuresses
,
who
know
how
to
feign
a
sanctity
which
produces
a
favourable
impression
in
their
behalf
.
Women
convicts
are
dreadfully
quarrelsome
;
and
their
language
is
said
to
be
more
disgusting
and
filthy
than
that
of
the
men
.
However
vigilant
the
surgeon
may
be
,
it
is
impossible
altogether
to
prevent
intercourse
between
the
females
and
the
sailors
;
and
it
often
happens
that
some
of
the
fair
ones
,
on
their
arrival
in
the
colony
,
are
in
a
way
to
increase
the
Australian
population
.
Perhaps
the
surgeon
himself
may
take
a
fancy
to
one
or
two
of
the
best-looking
;
and
these
are
sure
to
obtain
great
indulgences
—
such
as
being
appointed
nurses
to
the
sick
,
or
being
permitted
to
remain
on
the
sick-list
throughout
the
voyage
,
which
is
an
excuse
for
allowing
them
wine
and
other
little
comforts
.
The
women
always
speak
to
and
of
each
other
as
ladies
;
and
the
old
procuresses
,
when
chosen
as
matrons
,
are
treated
with
the
respectful
Mrs.
Thus
it
is
always
,
'
Ladies
,
come
for'ard
for
your
pork
;
'
or
'
Ladies
,
come
up
for
your
biscuit
;
'
or
'
Ladies
,
the
puddings
are
cooked
.
'
Of
an
evening
they
dance
or
sing
,
—
and
as
often
quarrel
and
fight
.
This
cannot
be
wondered
at
,
when
it
is
remembered
that
there
is
no
attempt
at
classification
;
and
women
who
may
have
been
chaste
in
person
,
though
criminal
in
other
respects
,
are
compelled
to
herd
with
prostitutes
of
all
degrees
,
from
the
lowest
trull
that
skulks
in
the
courts
leading
out
of
Fleet
Street
to
the
fashionable
nymph
who
displays
her
charms
at
the
theatre
.
The
very
chastity
of
a
woman
who
has
been
sentenced
perhaps
for
robbing
furnished
lodgings
,
or
plundering
her
master
in
her
capacity
of
servant
,
or
for
committing
a
forgery
,
is
made
a
reproach
to
her
by
the
prostitutes
and
old
procuresses
;
and
her
life
is
miserable
.
Moreover
,
it
is
next
to
impossible
that
she
can
escape
a
contamination
which
prepares
her
for
a
life
of
profligacy
when
she
reaches
the
colony
.
"
Before
the
female
convict-ship
leaves
the
Thames
,
numbers
of
old
procuresses
and
brothel-keepers
go
on
