jack's antipathy to the law. 201 



boatman's charge, and conveyed to our vessel ; from 

 which time he was not allowed to go ashore again 

 whilst we remained in the harbor. 



It may be seen, from the result in this instance, 

 that men have but little encouragement to apply 

 to the consul. What, then, shall they do? The 

 English courts will not receive an American sea- 

 man's complaints — stating that they have no juris- 

 diction in such a case ; but, at the same time, they 

 will grant to the captain of a vessel warrants for the 

 arrest and detention of any of his crew who may 

 desert. 



Thus, both these avenues to justice and right are 

 in a measure closed against the sailor; but, even 

 were they open, I doubt whether Jack would resort 

 to them. Taught by experience, as well as from the 

 prejudice of ignorance, he cherishes a strong anti- 

 pathy toward both the law and its executors ; for 

 which reason, he does not care to prefer a complaint 

 in a court of justice, but would rather forswear its 

 promised shelter, and take the seemingly shorter and 

 easier method offered by desertion, to gain a release 

 from tj-ranuy or exemption from unbearable wrongs. 

 In adopting the latter course, however, it not unfre- 

 quently happens, that, instead of having improved 

 his condition, he finds, to use a homely adage, that 

 he has jumped out of the frying-pan into the fire. 



But I must resume my narrative, and speak of the 

 colonists, among whom there is a generation now 

 rising who have been born on the island. They are 

 known as Van Dieraanians or Tasmanians. The 

 males are large, fine-looking fellows, and the females 

 generally possess some beauty and intelligence. 



