Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
There was little to stop the stronger or more unscrupulous pas-
sengers taking food away from the less robust. Those laid low by sea-
sickness or other infirmity frequently grew weaker through lack of
nourishment in the noisome tween-decks conditions described thus
in a parliamentary committee report:
It was scarcely possible to induce the passengers to sweep the
decks after their meals or to be decent in respect to the common wants
of nature; in many cases, in bad weather, they would not go on deck,
their health suffered so much that their strength was gone, and they
had not the power to help themselves. Hence the between decks were
like a loathsome dungeon. When hatchways were opened, under which
the people were stowed, the steam rose and the stench was like that
from a pen of pigs. The few beds they had were in a dreadful state,
for the straw, once wet with sea water, soon rotted, besides which they
used the between decks for all sorts of filthy purposes.
3
It is scarcely surprising that incidents such as this were recor-
ded by emigrants:
The child I mentioned yesterday evening expired during the night.
The body lies upon the poop of the vessel awaiting the last few words
to be read over it ere it be cast into the ocean beneath us . . . 10 o'clock
all is over. The poor, perishable body is no more but the soul of this in-
fant, we hope, is for ever happy. The grief of the parents is very great
as it was their only child . . .
4
With the discovery of gold in 1850 the flow of hopeful settlers
dramatically increased. The following years were a bonanza for the
shipping lines. The new colonies created an ever-increasing demand
for manufactured goods for the clippers to take out. The homeward
voyages brought nuggets and gold dust for the bullion-hungry fin-
