34 A HISTORY OF THE COLONY OF VICTORIA 



had been brought out in the Ocean, and were probably pitched on 

 the small level plateau, where they could be under the purview of 

 the sentinels. According to William Buckley, the mechanics were 

 allowed to build themselves timber huts without these lines, and 

 those engaged as sawyers, lime burners and brickmakers camped 

 in the vicinity of their work, to some extent unguarded. Some- 

 what more imposing marquees were set up for the chaplain and 

 the civil and military staff ; and the erection of a large storehouse, 

 with a substantial magazine for arms and ammunition, was forth- 

 with commenced. The labour of the first few weeks was concen- 

 trated on discharging the stores from the Ocean, a toilsome duty 

 that was not completed till the 4th of November. The philosophical 

 and sympathetic Tuckey gives us a glimpse of the character of 

 their toils when he says : " When I viewed so many of my fellow- 

 men sunk, some of them, from a rank of life equal or superior to 

 my own, and by their crimes degraded to a level with the basest 

 of mankind ; when I saw them naked, wading to their shoulders 

 in water to unload the boats, while a burning sun struck its 

 meridian rays upon their uncovered heads, or yoked to and sweat- 

 ing under a timber carriage, the wheels of which were sunk up 

 to the axle in sand, I only considered their hapless lot, and the 

 remembrance of their vices was for a moment absorbed in the 

 greatness of their punishment." The more matter-of-fact Collins, 

 however, while reporting that he will endeavour to get from the 

 convicts all the labour he possibly can, is greatly pleased with the 

 way they conduct themselves, " wading the whole day long, up to 

 their middles in water, with the utmost cheerfulness, to discharge 

 the boats as they come in ". 



Gradually the straggling turmoil began to take on order and 

 system, as it was brought under the influence of military discipline. 

 The mixed elements of the community were assorted into their 

 places and required to keep them. The free settlers were allotted 

 a valley close to the encampment in which to erect their huts, 

 and allowed " small portions of garden ground ". Collins expressed 

 his belief that they only remained at the settlement on account of 

 the excellence of the provisions with which they were supplied, 

 and hoped to devise some means of relieving the Government 



