Australian Convict History: Convict Labour - Essay Example

Australian Convict History: Convict Labour Student’s Name: Instructor’s Name: Course Code: Date of Submission: Australian Convict History: Convict Labour 1.0 Introduction The current multi ethnic and cultural composition is not what used to be of Australia in earlier centuries. The known original occupants were the Aboriginals. The history of Australia as it is today with the majority of the being of Caucasian origin and with historical ties to Britain is greatly defined by British Government decision to settle some of it convicts in Australia making it a penal colony. In 1788 Captain Arthur Philip and around 1, 350 people arrived in Botany Bay marking the entry of first immigrants to Australia. This was to be followed by 1790 fleet.1 Since then people have immigrated to Australia to form the multicultural and multi ethnic nation as it is today. The paradigm shift of taking convicts to Australia was necessitated by the rebellions in United States of America which culminated to their independence in 1776. Secondly, the cost of sustaining them in Europe was exorbitant and thus, the need for cheaper option and where they could be engaged for commercial purposes with less overcrowding. With not so advanced equipments as compared to today, the experience was not rosy. This coupled with isolation and a tropical environment which is different from the western European one the shock that these people faced was not an easy one.2 The ultimate goal of this paper is to describe and contrast the differences between convict experiences on board a transport in the early and later phases of the convict era. Concurrently, the paper will examine how we can account for these differences. 2.0 A Review of the General Experiences Transportation of convicts to Australia from Britain existed from 1788 to 1886 when the process was formally abolished. For this paper, the context for the early phase of arrivals is conceptualised to entail the first fleet that arrived in 1788 at New South Wales. The other arrivals that are considered under this time frame is the second group of 1790 and third arrival of 1791 at New South Wales.3 The other remaining arrivals and which occurred after late 18th century (early to mid 19th century) will be considered as late arrivals.4 2.1 Early Phases The pre idea of setting Australia as a colony of Britain relates to the exploration work of James Cook who discovered and mapped what was East Cost of New Holland in 1770. By 18 August 1786 a decision was deliberate made to send colonisation voyage which would comprise of convicts, military personnel and civilians.5 The actualisation of this dream occurred on 13 may 1787 when the first group in ships accompanied by two naval escorts and three store ship begun their journey at Portsmouth.6 The main action for early convict lies in what is today known as Sydney City. On 20 January, 1788 the first ship landed in Botany bay, New South Wales. This ship had 568 male convicts on board, 191 females and 13 children. Apart from the convicts, there were 206 marines with 26 wives and 13 children and 20 officials.7 As a result of unbearable conditions and inadequate food, the group experienced high mortality rate. This hindered their ability to establish the first European colony in Australia as envisioned. Owing to these challenges, the voyage comprising of marines, their wives and convicts relocated to Port Jackson on 26 January, 1788 which became the first European colony in Australia. This is what is today known as Sydney. Moreover, this conquest is nowadays celebrated in modern Australia as Australia Day.8 Once in Port Jackson, the housing units for the marines and other official were made of cabbage-tree palm. On the other hand, the huts for the convicts were built using boards wattled with slender twigs and plastered with clay. The second fleet that left England on 29 June, 1789 had six ships. These six include Lady Jualiana which docked in Australia on 29 June, 1789 and had 226 female convicts. The next was Guardian that lefts on 12, September, 1789 and never made it since they struck an ice berg off cost of South Africa. The remaining four (surprise, Neptune, Scarborough and Justinian) left England on 19 January, 1790 and docked the same year at the end of June. All of them combined had 931 males and 78 female convicts.9 The third fleet which had 11 ships with majority leaving England on 27 March, 1791 and arriving in Australia the same year in the months of July, August, September and October. In total, they had 3, 714 males and 25 female convicts.10 2.2 Later Phase The first voyage of convicts and the subsequent two others were sent to Sydney Cove the place where Philip first raised the British and established. However, the subsequent convicts were transferred to other locations like Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania), Norfolk Island and Moreton Bay among others. This happened from 1800s and they consist of what is termed as later arrivals.11 Van Diemen’s Land or what is known as Tasmania was founded in 1925. from 1803-1853 approximately 75, 00 convicts were taken to this region to work in places like Port Arthur. These convicts work in chain-gangs.12 The same expansion of establishing penal colonies in Australia continued. For instance, Western Australia was founded in 1827 and designated as penal colony in 1849. The main are of action was of the coast of Perth which began operations in 1838. Up to 1868, the area received approximately 10, 000 convicts. For Victoria which was separated from NSW, only a paltry of 1, 750 convicts were sent directly from Britain. These convicts were sent from 1844 to 1849. The other new colony that hosted later arrivals is Queensland. After separating from NWS, Moreton Bay Settlement also known as Redcliffe in Queensland was established in 1824. This was later to be moved to Brisbane town which closed in 1839. In all those years of operation, about 2, 280 convicts were hosted.13 3.0 Experiences during Transportation 3.1 Early Phases The journey to Australia took roughly 8 months and during this period, the convicts were chained. The ships used to transport the convicts had compartments separated by iron or wooden bars. These compartments contained approximately 50 convicts. While in the high seas, the convicts faced inhumane treatment from the brutal officers who were illiterate, ever drunk and cruel. Other experiences that these people had while in high seas were the vulnerability to diseases. It is noted that diseases like scurvy and sea sickness were rampant. This coupled by limited medical service and food rations the situation would not get any better.14 The experiences convicts underwent through during these three first voyages and up to 1800 were harrowing and terrifying experiences. For instance, the irons used to inhibit the movement of the convicts were heavy and did not allow the convicts extend their legs more than two inch apart. This highly inhibited their movement unless they risked breaking their legs. Secondly, at the arrival in Australia, the second fleet had three hundred and seventy dead people. In the same ship, four hundred and fifty convicts arrived extremely sick, deprived and emaciated. In a nutshell, they were individuals waiting to perish since they conditions they arrived in could not be salvaged through medical experiences.15 For instance, it is estimated that one out of ten convicts died. The prevalence of diseases such as scurvy doubled. For example, it is reported that one convict lost up to ten teeth as a result of scurvy. The deck below experienced outbreak of dysentery. Dysentery made the deck to emit foul smell thus, reducing the quality of environment. The next concern over the experiences is the congestion that the convicts underwent while they are double chained.16 The surgeon in charge during the 1803 voyage observes that the rattling of the chains was a nasty experience. Moreover, the congestion in these floating dungeons was good breeding grounds for vermin and cholera outbreak.17 The experiences in the early voyages were nasty and it was like an extension of penal punishment. As result of being exposed to these strenuous conditions, the convicts were prone to convulsion, syncope and hysterical behaviour.18 The regime in these ships was like disciplined force where things were done by order. For instance, the convicts were given detailed outline of what they should at each given time and by who.19 The emerging picture is that the earlier voyages had nasty experiences and worse as compared to later voyages. The reason behind this argument is based on the fact that pioneer ventures are usually difficult and one is not sure of the possible encounters. This kind of argument can be affirmed by the 1815 decision that all ships be accompanied by a resident surgeon who would attend to the convicts medically. The enforcement of this decree was as a result of damming report by Wlliam Radfern about the inhumane conditions experienced by the convicts under the Transportation Act which made over see transportation process part of the penal code.20 In addition, the basis of this postulation is based on the fact that in earlier years there no surgeons to determine the suitability of convicts to withstand over sea transport over a long period of time.21 3.2 Later Phases The prisoners were contained below the decks and confined behind prison bars. However, they had opportunity albeit limited to access the upper deck for purposes of exercise and fresh air. During this period, they slept on hammocks. The point of comparison is that all later voyages had medical superintendent and religious instructor. The daily routines defined by the authorities, general rules and regulations and surgeons remarks best define the experiences of these convicts.22 There are experiences that cut across the two divides like being stripped and washed large tabs, limited clothing, iron cuffs and petty crimes within the convict which marked the mistreatment these people faced.23 For instance, the experiences in Earl St. Vincent in 1820 affirm certain continued experiences between the two divides and certain differences. One departing point is that later convicts had free access to the deck and were issued books for spiritual nourishment.24 Cunningham (1827, p.212-214) exposes certain happening that affirms the observation that certain factors did not change. For instance, the congestion did not subside since a berth which is six feet square was holding four convicts. However, according to Cunningham (1827), one remarkable improvement was in terms of ration provided to the inmates. He notes the ration was good and abundant. The argument that can be advanced is that, as compared to previous voyages, the conditions were improving. For instance, after realisation that these ships were slowly converting into brothels, a British Judge ruled that younger women be taken to cabins of the officers every night.25 This was an imagined of situation during the early voyages since the belief that these were prisoners who had committed crimes and they did not warrant any humane treatment. Second to this is the 1815 ruling that all ships be accompanied by resident surgeons and that before transporting a convict he or she had to be satisfied to be medically suitable for the process. It is noted that the medical and moral authority of these surgeons expanded to encompass care and discipline.26 3.3 Emerging Differences between the Two Phases From the above discussions, the experiences encountered are the same. The only differences that emerge are the intensity of these problems. From a comparative perspective, it can be argued that the first three voyages experienced extreme conditions since the process had not taken root. The basis for improved condition is based on the fact that after 1815, any convict who was to be transferred to Australia had to be certified fit by a surgeon. On the other hand, in earlier years, it was matter of punishing the convicts without taking into consideration their health conditions. Moreover, with the realisation that female are likely to face sexual exploitation it was decreed that at night they should be taken to the cabin of the officers’. These two instances affirm the improvement that came with time. 4.0 Conclusion The ultimate aim of this paper was to examine the experiences of the convicts while on high seas/ during transportation. The experiences are examined from two perspectives. The first is the early arrivals which consisted of the first three voyages and arrivals up to 1799. The second category is the later arrivals which spanned from 1800 to 1865 when the process was abolished. To answer the thesis statement, the discourse first examined these two arrivals and the general experiences faced by the convicts. Secondly, the paper examined the experiences during transportation in the two phases. The findings were that the experiences were more or less similar with difference being the intensity. The difference in terms of intensity is that conditions were marginally improved, convicts were examined first in relation to their ability to withstand the process and females were offered place in officers’ cabin at night. Lastly, in the latter years there was improvement in ration given to the convicts. References Ancestry, ‘Australian convict transportation registers- first fleet, 1787-1788’, Ancestry [Web page] (2007a) < http://search.ancestry.co.uk/search/db.aspx?dbid=1177>, accessed 14 Dec. 2012. Ancestry, ‘Australian convict transportation registers- first fleet, 1787-1788’, Ancestry [Web page] (2007b) , accessed 14 Dec. 2012. Ancestry, ‘Australian convict transportation registers- first fleet, 1787-1788’, Ancestry [Web page] (2007c) , accessed 14 Dec. 2012. Australian Government, ‘Convicts and the British colonies in Australia’, Australia Government [Web page] (2010) < http://australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/convicts-and- the-british-colonies>, accessed 14 Dec. 2012. Australian Government, ‘European discovery and the colonisation of Australia: European mariners’, Australian Government [Web page] (2008) < http://australia.gov.au/about australia/australian-story/european-discovery-and-colonisation >, accessed 14 Dec. 2005. Australian History Research, ‘The First Fleet’, Australian History Research [Web page] (2012) , accessed 14 Dec. 2012. Australian History, ‘Australian History: Convicts’, Australian History [Web page] (2012) < http://www.australianhistory.org/convicts >, accessed 14 Dec. 2005. Browning, Colin Arrott. The Convict Ship and England’s Exiles. 5th edn London: 1851. Convicts to Australia, ‘Life on a convict ship’, Convicts to Australia [Web page] (2012) , accessed 15 Dec. 2012. Cunningham, P. Two Years in New South Wales, vol. 2, 1827. Dunn, Cathy and Marion McCreadie, ‘Australian History Research: The First Fleet’, Citeseer [Web page] (2010) < http://www.australianhistoryresearch.info/the-first-fleet/>, accessed 14 Dec. 2012. Halliday, Jess, ‘Convict Australia: Transportation’, Citeseer [Web page] (2012) , accessed 15 Dec. 2012. Hill, Historical Records of NSW, VSW, 1790, Vol. 1, Pt. 2 Hill, Patrick, in Evans and Nicholls, Convicts and Colonial Society, 1820. Humphery, Kim. A New Era of Existence: Convict Transportation and the Authority of the Surgeon in Colonial Australia. Labour History. 1990, 59, 59–72. Vaux, James Hardy, The Memoirs of James Hardy Vaux, 1819, ed. N. Mclachlan, 1964, pp.198- 200. Read More