CONVICTS. 85 



their benefactors when forced by hunger to do so. 

 This often happens, as they are exceedingly improvi- 

 dent. Their mode is, on obtaining food, to gorge 

 themselves to repletion, and then to sleep or hulk 

 about until Providence sends them another suppl}', 

 or hunger compels them to seek it. 



These Australians contrast very unfavorably with 

 oar aborigines (the North American Indians), being 

 possessed of all their bad qualities, without a single 

 one of their redeeming traits ; the same love of rum 

 and tobacco, and a mean habit of pilfering, without 

 their perseverance in the chase and bravery in conflict. 

 I shall now, for the present, bid them farewell, though, 

 as m}^ narrative proceeds, I will again have occasion 

 to revert to them. 



As this settlement is part of a penal colony to 

 which Great Britain consigns her malefactors, for 

 from five years to the duration of their lives, to atone 

 for offences against the laws of their country, the 

 society is not, consequently, what we at home would 

 call select ; but, such as it is, it has its aristocracy'. 

 Although the majority of the inhabitants are con- 

 victs, some of whom have served out their term of 

 punishment, the word convict amongst themselves 

 is never used — it being apparently banished, by com- 

 mon consent, from their conversation. The convicts 

 here form three grades — the members of the first, 

 comprising those whose sentences have not been ame- 

 liorated, are under the strict surveillance of the govern- 

 ment, and employed on government work. The second 

 class are known as "ticket of relief holders;" these, 

 for uniform good conduct, receive this ticket, which 

 entitles them to choose their own employers and place 

 8 



