OP NEW SOUTH WALES. 219 



distributed among the whole class of emancipated convicts, whether 

 they had been set free before the expiration of their term for good 

 behaviour, or had served their time out, produced positive injury. 



During our stay at Sydney, a convict-ship arrived; and being 

 desirous of obtaining a view of her accommodations, and the mode of 

 treating the convicts, I visited her. This vessel was prepared ex- 

 pressly for the purpose. Between decks, a strong grated barricade, 

 well spiked with iron, is built across the ship at the steerage bulk- 

 head. This affords the officers a free view of all that is going on 

 among the prisoners. 



Bunks for sleeping are placed on each side all the way to the bow, 

 resembling those in a guard-room. Each of these will accommodate 

 five persons. There is no outlet but through a door in the steerage 

 bulkhead, and this is always guarded by a sentrj^. Light and air are 

 admitted through the hatches, which are well and strongly grated. 

 The guard is under the command of a sergeant, and is accommodated 

 in the steerage, the whole being under the orders of a surgeon, whose 

 duty it is to superintend and regulate every thing that relates to the 

 prisoners, inspect the ship daily, and administer punishment, even 

 unto death if necessary. The surgeon also has control over the master 

 of the vessel, and his regulations. The master and mates, on receiv- 

 ing a certificate from the surgeon, are allowed a small sum for every 

 convict landed, in addition to their pay. 



The criminals have prison fare, and are supplied with wooden-ware 

 for their eating utensils, which are kept in very nice order. The 

 quarter-deck is barricadoed near the main-mast, abaft of which all the 

 arms and accoutrements of the guard and vessel are kept. The 

 master and officers are usually lodged in the poop-cabin. The 

 prisoners are habituated to the discipline of the ship, on board the 

 hulks, before leaving England. The usual, and most effectual, punish- 

 ment for misbehaviour, is to place the culprit in a narrow box on 

 deck, in which he is compelled to stand erect. This punishment is 

 said to be effectual in reducing the most refractory male convicts to 

 order, but it was not found so efficacious in the female convict-ship ; 

 for, when put in the box, they would bawl so loudly, and use their 

 tongues so freely, that it was found necessary to increase the punish- 

 ment by placing a cistern of water on the top of the box. This was 

 turned over upon those who persisted in using their tongues, and 

 acted on the occupant as a shower-bath, the cooling effect of which 

 was always and quickly efficacious in quieting them. I was informed 



