Account of the Johnson Migration From England to Queensland
Dear Mr Cecil,
Harry thinks this book is not worth sending but I tell him as I told you
in my letter that I should send it to you I must do so and I know if you
dear people can make anything of it he will and if he cannot it will please
our friends to read it just as it is please let Elizabeth see it and Harry,
Brother John and he will let them all see it at Nunburnholme and then it
must go to his brother Tom and he will let my friends see it but it will
take a very long time for it to go round to all brothers and sisters and I
know Mr Littler would like to see it for it was he who first talked with
Harry about it I hope you will get it safe and I shall be so pleased to hear
from you I would write you another letter but I have so many to write for
this mail which leaves tomorrow August 11 so with love and duty to all.
Believe as ever
Yours faithfully
Ellen Johnson.
My Address to be left at the Post Office
Rockhampton
Queensland
Australia.
This letter was written by Ellen Johnson wife of Henry Johnson.
The following was an account of the trip from the home of Ellen and Henry
Johnson in England across land by train to the Port so as to continue their
journey by ship to Rockhampton in Australia.
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June 5th 1887
London Emigrant Home,
My Very Dear friends of old England. I tend to take my first begining
tonight down by God help what may be useful to any that may wish to come
after us. Well my own desire to Emigrate was not a mear desire but by
certain circumstances that was brought round sometimes and blamed other
people with their envious eyes but when I consider the state of the country
and look at all things not together as peopledo but one thing at a time and
then make in addishan fun of them and see the answer, then take the answer
was to the Lord. Fuses and what they pray over it and for you will get the
answer and proof and this is ware I made up my minde and if it has not been
in this way I should have never been here writing this book so unconcerned.
Just the last morning in the old England for I loved my home and friends
with great tenderness my writing this book been the entenchun for the benfit
well you mustveguse a long. Preface for it is near brekfast time and I
shale not be able to wright no more in England for the last to in this
country. May the Lord bless you all.
It was on the 1 st of June 1887 me and my wife and five boys ware brough in
way from Hull with the train for London as I wright this for the public. I
will try to give you the expence of my fame by besides my famely I brought
above half a ton of lagluge our fair been £2..6.9.and9.9d the extary lagluge
we had a plesant jurney very bettile Elmar been as merry as could be the
cuntery vareys very much but we did not seenothing much for a cuntery man to
notase till we got to Linhcon ten we ware all strock with the butfull sight
befor us nothing so grand I never dremt of the Minster atends on a hill and
the toun all laying round looking like a gand picher well the train keept-
whirling along and we neard to London the sight was surprising such a mass
of buldens no one can think who as not seen; we got to Blackwold about 29
min to 6 and thin fasney 500; people with all thire hits and boxes Ican not
tell you how big the places is but Water Hall is a catage to the Emigrants
Home and the conduchatation of the Home is perfect when we got settled we
went in to a good meat supper and when that was over we had a meting singing
hyems and pray these we had night and morninh and some but full days was
sent up on behalf of us that was going to sea.
Friday 5th up at half past 6 geting our things together brifest at 8.
Young men going on the stemer at 9 youhg mades next then came the marred
with there femeleys we all on boad and going down on the river before 12.
You well under stand the Decca can not get up to go to Gravesend about 20
miles they say in a Packet all the lugage going day befor it is a very dull
raney day apoiling all the plager; but I think it is about 4 and we have got
settled on the big ship. Dacca she is not caled big for not them she is
like a littel town up to this I am well satesfide yea more I am thankfull; 4
o;clock we are farley under sail may the Lord speed us well.
Sattaday 4 th we have speed away in the night but it is very misty I can
hardley tell the ship is aturing the fog horn keeps blowing every 5 minets
and the look outs is on ther gard but the sea air is very gracen. I feel as
if I could eat an horse we have had a very comfortable night the beds is
real good and every thing in the hit is beutfull the knives and forks and
spoons are very good and cups and plats will last a life time I realey can
not explain how nice every thing is we get up at half past 6 get out bread
and butter and mustard peper salt treakel at half past 7 make our beds empty
our slops sweep up and brekfest at 8 it is very bad to get aney thing cooked
that one may bring with them but I must say here aney bodey coming after
make them selves some nice bits to eat. Till they get uste to the ship
living we have severl littel bits of work to do too of as to go on guard in
turns but it is nothing much the ship is 1,400 tons burden 108 yards long
the dose sail. I taday we cannot tell she is storine some people is auging
now wether we are going or stoped we are down below wehn we go up on deeck
you can see her rateling a wayy. I never enjoyed not thing so much in my
all my life then is a lot of ships to see bvut we can not see no land there
is a lot of dakeys on ship I can not tell what they say them are like a lot
of geese whem you turn them out in the moring they remind me of Matty
Twallows in breding time they have just gaving us som bus kets out as hard
as from 10 o¹clock.
Sunday sea sick it is Friday now and I have not been abel towright one word
till to day for the sickness began on Sunday moring and we owe the sight to
see the men, woman and children it was awfull to see but to look at pepole
is not thing but to feel tthe awfull sickness is somwe thing I can not
atempte to decribe me amd my wife wase in the worst we never eat aney thing
of fore days I lade to days and could not assist in aney thing nay if aney
thing had happand to the ship I realey belive I should not have made aney
attempt to have saved my self I realey thought it would be a relice to have
been trown over bode our 4 youngest ware all right Arthur had to be the
nurse and here you now the value of a frind you must under stand that the
sicness done not tuch ever one some of the men and few of the women never
was sick at all and among these was our frind C. Mountthroup and his proof
of a good frend he lead my wife up on stick and ficht her chire and I could
not speak to thank him but I thank the Lord in my hart he is a good yong man
our own poor Ted was as to bad to be of aney use but it was tuching to see
the tenderness he had in waching his mother he would not tuch a busket ore
an thing that he thought mother could eat I was faxt to be real angry with
him becase it was most nesery he should eat some thing now I think my dear
frinds you will understand what sea sicknes is with out aney michstackes
about it time you have it you well rue the day you left old England all
though I never did that my thoughtswas more to die and be librated in that
way; Well we are hardlet out of site of land one day we was the longest
time out of site of land when we past through Bay of Briskey but that is
trhe time when you want to see least for it is the time sicness and
desponsey the first thing we see was to note was to big kacks standing out
in the sea with a light house on onethen we came in sight of Spain and see
the ships levening Lesben we sailed all that day on the cost and most of the
next I belive the pepole read it was like Yorkshire would. I did not see
much myself and think we came in sight of Portagal but it is all the same
sight same scencry we are continily passing ships the same as you pass
wagins and carts in the land when you have been ship a weak you think no
more of the tea then as if you was just going to get your breakfast and not
so much aney one wishing to come after me and fear the sea you can just put
that fear to a side becose it is noting at all. I should like you to under
stand me when I say the sea is nothing to feare it realey is not. Well the
next night was Gevarator I got to now when we ware in the Bay of Trafagar
ware the battal was foat and we had land on both sides very soon but night
came on and some men sat up to see the strats and we had realey past it 20
miles before they knew wich was it then they came down laughing to think
they had set up all the time and passed it and did not now of code it was
night for myself it well be for ever a night of rembernsance I was on gard 4
hours and the sea sickness returned and oh dear I had a very dull day after
that but this moringI fell most my self again we came in sight of land again
and in to the Atlanket Cacn we caught sight this moring first thing when
we got up about six the land on the other side. Affration cost very high
hills buttfull to look at I think I have tould you all the sights as near as
I can that we have past concidering my sickness I will try with Gods help to
give you a better dicripting of what we may come at but I must give youa lot
of adivice to those who may come after me we have no bade men si I should
think to look at and yong children a munth old. I should then thank some
that well be born on the ship befor we land there is about 700 on the ship
one sote and the other I should say not above one quater the same class as
my self and fron all quarters of the globe but there is a deal to put up
with on the ship a cuntery man semes to be the close air wose thin the town
pople the bittles is ruff but planty if he can not pick a lettel bit out of
it all the bread is the worst but them that may think of coming bring some
nice things with them some tea condence milk curring cake a nice ham if aney
thing you may think of that is nice and planty of them then you willdi well
if not you will rue you did not all merarl waters is 4 a pice on the ship
bring some frute salts a good store.
After dinner I had given up for this day but as I wright this book for ypur
benfite I must dine myself the plesure of looking at the splendid veiw that
lays fefor us just now the mist as cleared and it as spend to us a sight
wich I cannot put before you the nearest that I can come is a Majic Lantarn
same as we have had in the school room it is very lage hills and all to
looke yp anus cutavated all our ware they can so you must give to your
selves the cidal of the mixture that canot posabulty becutalvated some say
they can see men on land itis ao plesent and warm we have not had aney cold
yet 3 o¹clock in the afternoon we have just had the order to put all our
warm close away there is not to be no more cold part but we have had no
cold.
Sattaday it has been a very tring day we have had our boxes up and you can
not iemagen the stor itis like a great fair we have been puting our warm
close racks to the right in the sea we are still sailing on the same coast
it is loke sailing down the Humber for days it is a grand day we had a tea
totler meting last night we had some very good speaking there is no such
tning as been dull here there is allways some thing to amuse you the meal
times all ways semes coming we no soner get washed up then we have to do
dirty the pots again; we are just passing some more kacks about 8 o¹clock at
night some one lives on them to keep lights at night there isa fiddel in one
part of the ship and dqancin. Scratch bag pips in another and badlodin in
another singin Hyms in another and singin songs in another 7 darkeys browing
in another some more playing cards some more playing domanoes a lot of lads
playing hap cap some less boys playing hid ansike and groops of girls at the
English girl games some ladys an gentle man woking on the Thoson deck
whaching all the craft and I am shoe there is plenty to amuse aney one there
is hair cuting and shaving going on I my self have just been shaved with a
black he shaved very well doun in the bunks that ware we aresleep they call
their bunks you may fancey a very grate stable with horses stoal at each
side some grat cup bords to sleep in and at each end of the stool a bench
now this is just befor we get in to bed on these bences all the people is
sat and evey stool is deep in convation with there own interests just the
same as you will see knots of men on a summer night after work in a velige
onely this a mixture of all coutys and scotch and Irish women and children
of all ages now this is Sattaday eving and we are expecting to see Malta in
the moring.
Sunday June 12 about 2 P. M.we have just anchored at Malta it is a splendid
place to look at but what makes it more plesant we have a lettel rest for we
have had a hevary sea for six hours and it has made some of us sick again I
eill not right more to day it being Sunday.
Monday 13 Dear frinds I need say I would not right more it been Sunday I
never experienced such a Sunday in all my life as soon as we got in to the
shore well I may say as soon has the people so our curlow flying at top mast
they must have been getting redey for there was 20 boats after us with all
boats of all sorts of things to sell tobaca of all sorts cergares and
cigrets- at all prices 1 lb of 100¹ the smoking is very cheap but oringes
was dearer the season been just closed they ware 10 a dosen; I bote lemans
at 4d a doz. I got 3 dosen they are the nicest of aney thing to make drink
of Apels ware a id figs fore 1d. Pettee Beall did not say to much about the
oringes they realy are excelant a felow mithe never be sattesfided with
eating them, there was some of the nicest portrate frames at a 1 each I ever
saw and looking glasss and other oramants all cut out of spar or mabel and
corral neck laeces 1d each and 1 d each and corril broches and laceses of
splend beuty I should to have treated my wife with some but she sead if I
did it been Sunday she would have no pleagure in it so I had to content my
self with thinking what nice preasants we might be able to send home some
day oh how I did long to send home of the tobaca; there had such a lot of
close to sell and here I would say do not bye no more in England then you
are fort- becose you bye them dears and unsuable itis foolish to bring money
hevey close I my self brought th meney by half and you could bye condencest
tend loberster Samon, jam English 2 d each dearer this at home sugar 5 d
tea 1/ 6 per lb but you have to give the look a tip to get things made redy
I mene exterys that wase the fair we had on Sunday if it had been Munday it
would have been nice.
All now abnout Malta I cannot half make you under stand the magnifence of
the place try as I may there is noat but seeing it now you must fincery a
place like Cleaven I come the sides been real solad rock and from side to
side been half a mile and in this splend dock see big stemcrs and led down
to a boat lying all round and boats moving all over with diffrant people in
them Tolgers a bilt all round on these rocks one above another till it
looks like a real mass of buildins or tremass castel with lage spires and
towers there was some bellw peling grand out on the warter and been a fine
day every thing was at its best Tolgers waking sent one cless above another
on the fattifications belongs to differant - regiments, there is some small
trees growing scatered about and some few amomest the houses on the rocks
and we cold see the trains runing father back but a great hight a bove the
sea there is roads and it lyes like the woulds, next munth is there summer
we 2ighed ancer about 11 at night we got a lagfe quanty of coal and
Revishens on boad pigins, ducks, gese a lot of sheep the big horn I felt at
Lonre to see what condi they ware in and I thought they would have plety of
work to make broth I told them I cold eat one if he had is jackit off we got
new patttoes cabages and colleflowers onins fish beefand frish water and all
soats of things I turned tired and went to bed when I arose this moring we
a-ware out of sight of land a fine moring the ship rocks a littel.
After dinner we have had a good dinner rost beef and now 3 o¹clock they have
ginen one egge each for all the more we get uste to live better the more we
get uste to the ship fair.
Thursday 14 th The sea a littel camer sails set and gliding along prety
quick we have been very trong this moring carring all our beds up on deck to
a are and out burths ti scrob out with big dry stons put in an iron fram it
is not esey work do not think us men as all to do very near we have all the
meat to fich from the cook I think most of the women as the lady there the
children lugan school yestarday we see no land to-day I wishBob Harrison was
here I now we shoild have a lot of fun there is plenty of rooms for is fun
here I back if he comes and some yong fellowes with him they will have a
fine spree; the heat is very comfortable yet it is very littel warmer then
it is in then fine days in Aperl it is just one bamey breas no cold shivees
by passing clouds the same as you have but it is not so hot as it auct to be
natturely the unnature wether retched to here I hope it will contuney to
till we have pass the red sea every time the hevey sea comes on it makes
some ome sick but they say them that is sick most stands the climet best
when we land and I think it is provel becase it well be a change from the
sea to land and they canot change for worse then sea sickness is all tho I
do not begroge my sickness now i have past it I realey think I shall be
benifitell from it but I think the buteys I keep tacing makes up a good deal
for it we have no church parson on boad wich makesSunday very dull to me all
thou we have plenty of decanters, sing sankey hyms and praying and a lot of
wild young fellows boling all soats of stuf to anoye them wether they do
aney good or not I will leave it to better judgment than mine but to give my
thoughts about it the poor men may mene well by what they do but it dose not
look as if they had Gods blessing apon it; it dose not seem I crated the en
if they do not seme to gain that solman quit just respet that becomes a
Lord as if they ware blowing to the wind if it was done more inscredt and in
trueth the chance would come to there it openely you might not understand me
farely but if you ware here you would quit I think it seems to create such a
fus and excitment till it rises the sprits if the wild and they laugh and
joke and brother John you now the talk we had the last night together and it
gets my mind still stronger again the devening aganst the church if people
have meating houses let them go through the church it wase the first and it
must be tthe last depend upon it Mr Westley all ways told his menbers not to
forsake the church oh thet the good lord would turn the harts of men and
bring them into one mind and one house for Jesus sake;
Wedensday 15 th all very quit no land to see the Meritain sea been above
2000 miles long two men misbeaving them selvs in the night- has to be
punished they are under a fine it seens to have quitend the rest you would
be astonished to see the sailors run up to the top mask fixing the sails
they run about like cats they onely look like boys up in the top and they
make such a- noise when they are pullin at a rope it is the funest thing in
- the world I think to here the - darkeys chattern amonst them selvs they
make all soats of gesturees with there hands and faces they call us all John
we have had a good diner patpos and cold beff and brouth and pickels I have
as much - meat as I can get trough the chidren likes bread and butter and
treakel and I do not so we all have plenty what we like some people canot do
with it but I can now; and that well make the differance in accounts you may
hear but if I have my herth I think I shall get fat; by go I should like to
have a run about- three miles in the cuntery my legs semes as if they would
go by them selves we can hardley get a clear stride there is so meney people
on the ship the wind blows and the ship rocks a littel to-day Ted car play
amonst the other lads and run as if nothing had hailed him prety near I
think you would be - surprised to see the differance in looks of all the
people in there faces they have lost all there cuntery bloom we still all
be nice wight fokes when we land;
Tuhrsday 15 th A very fine moring half past sevan, we have just caut sight
of the Pote Said I suppose it is in. Tindait looks quit differant from
Malta quit the oposet it semes to lay low rite in the sea caust; We have
just aived at Pote the houses is of the bible tipe I have often wonderd how
they knew what the bulders was like in olden times but I can see it here
dose look grand there is at this moment 30 boats after us I supose for the
same purpose as at Malta there are three dakeys lads swiming to us naked
they are like fish swiming in the sea there is one lad lage tourer like as
if it ware I dealick and two looke out - posts the houses can be got on the
top for the same purpose; I see the game of the lads swiming to us they are
thowing penneys into the sea and they dive for them and they do not loose
one there is a bit more coal here for us and fresh water; P. S. I never saw
such a going on in all my life the boats as come up with there fruits and
all sorrts of things but there is some native Policecamd on board and they
will not let them sell the things to us if they can help it they say the
lallore is bad amongst they we are buying some they are dearer them at Malta
they keep trowing water at them and half drowndind them and they do mqke a
row it is a fine game there is grate big fish in th3e dock we can keep
seeing there is big sands which the tide comes up we are sailing down the
Sues Canal now there is land at boath sides it is like the sea sands on
boath sides and you can see wqater father off, there is no mistack it is a
grand voyage it i9s a real pleaugre trip to me I am sure aney one would like
it the sun is very wame now we seam to geting under neath it;
The canall has stations every 30 miles and there is Fetterahip wireys all
along and the ships as to wate at the station till the others com up we are
now stopt at the first stsation to big Stemers as passed us just now and
we are going to start for the next about half past 5 we have now past severl
stations but we have not had to stop aney more yet the carnall is cut thrugh
one of the deasarts of trabans it is real desartto there is onely some bits
of winds like bits of bushes scattard about all the other is like looking at
a grate sea of sand wich glitters in the hot sun kike bits of glass all over
the station gives a plesant aparance to the police they look nice in the
water side some have great big green bushes like ferns but as big mabery 5
feet high and differnt soats some of them is very deelast looking and full
of red blossam it very plesqant in the ship now the sun is seting but not
behind us but in the placeware you well see him at 12 o¹clock that semes
rather quires to us we have seen some birds to or three soats some fly like
swallows but is black and wight but moast wight and some biger then crows
but crober pigens tomajato has some like them you well have seen we have
seen to droves of camels triveeln across the desart with merchantdice to
other parts of thre cuntery but I had the misfort than to be geting tea
ready so I can explain them as I should like you would be surprised to see
the big powrfull machines they use for cleaning out the canall they have a
spout I should say 50 yards long that a man might creep up to deliver the
mud over the bank but try hqas I may I canot sattifise myself in explaing
the buteys I should just like to lend you my eys for a night and let you see
them for your selves; P. S. It is now 8 o¹clock about half past by England
and we have made fast for the night we are not alowed to sail after sun set
not till 5 in the moring it looks a quris place to stop in right in the
midel of a dessart not thing to see but sand we have past a nest of crabs I
can not call it aney thing els all though there was some scores of them
yonersters run on side of us for along way beging, we meet some good begers
but as soon as they see we ware going to stop they made off like wild rabsts
just as if we ware going to eat them it made me laugh though I did not like
to see aney one afrade of us we put a lot of men beding sand in iron carts
made like a b on too wehels made to tip up they qare all dressed in skirts
here most like chinese as you have see in pictures we have got sunthing like
40 miles down we go about 5 miles an hour we go very stedey down the canall
they all seam to have dogs but for what purpos it isnot for me to tell for
thewre is not a liven thing to see we have just past the most bitfullest
station yet the trees ware much lager and it stod father back on arise on
ground and had a woak cut out in the centre and trees on boath sides the
people had tryed to give it an English apparence with hourn tres the
theometer stands at 75 in our burths just know and we have a noise amosest
the younsters just before they roust we expect tobe out of the canall by
tomoro diner time.
Friday 16 very butfull moring about1/2 to 6. I was just to late we passt a
vilige a big one ware one of the Kings lived it was a bit of but was nice to
look at there is three or fore placeses to see ware there is vilages in the
midle of a peantaing like you may supose the Puke farm, but wildness all
round the desart semes quit innabated now on the banks of the canal the lads
and one man run after us for miles asking for buskeyts the man picked up a
pice of board and run with it on his shoulder I think he ment to step on it
in the water if he could not reach the things we throw him he kept kicking
at the lads so as they should not get more than him and the littel monkeys
was to sharp for him it was aport to see him the men had lade mettels like
as if they ware going to miles to lead sand on and these we saw a lot of
asses and horses and camels the camels lay down to get there lode poor
things I am sure they lode them to hevey they do seme to stager under ther
laddle it is grand theis moring is the view half past eight we have again
left the indeveidle beings behind again and the canall has expanded in to a
butfull lake half mile wide with ruff sand hills like lage rocks on each
side; about11 A. M.the scenery is most splend now thew canall has now run
narrow with a sand bank betwen the canall and a lake or a big fish pond of
real pea green water the canall been slight blue and the sandy desart is a
pretty light- gray withe bushies green and a station in full view with its
trees and flowers and houses like the others I have decribed now it would
make a pretty pichure with imence big hills standng back has far as you can
see; we have just past another station on a differant - modle red tiles
wight house placadens in front and a sloped red tiled roof from the midle
all round for a sun shade in front a lot of flowers about one foot high all
flowers in ful bloom; 3 o¹clock we are now passing away from sueses
is as pretter as aney other of the scenery with its variatons of land and
water it is nicely setutayed with the tide flowing up to it and for a long
distance praps half a mile there is an avenew of trees about 7 to 10 foot
high it is not a large place praps as big as Rockhngton but I think farther
we get the more veretys we see which makes us think we are amonest the
wonders of the world which we realy must we havew now see so much we do not
know what to expect to see next we are just at this presant sailing in the
prettest blue water aney bodey can iemgeain it is like sailing throu a
pichure it self. I am myself enchanted with it . Half past 3 the sun had
been very hot all day the ship is all canvest down to keep the sun of us the
dockter is very cafull- of us he says some of our selvs so he must take care
of us there was 11 kild with sun stroch last year in this ship. I supose
this is the red sea but the water is as blue as ever it is not very wide we
can see land on boath sides it is not above a mile of it still looks a bran
hilley kocky cuntery but very pretty.
 I should say we are sailing at about
12 or 14 miles an hour the sea is very calm we can not hardley tell the ship
moves- when we are down below I expect we have 4 days sail before we reach
Adan and then comes the big Indian Ocean- They say 3 weeks sail we dress in
noat but cotton now we want no bed close if you had some sun like this you
would soone make your hay I should say all ib a day but still it is not
unbearable it is plesant under the canvas concern so meney of us there is
109 black saliors
10 English. They say there is about 800 of us all to gether of coase I can
not say for right I have to go by what I here of such things as there I
should like to see ware the Trslets past-over if I can find out they say we
shall see Mount Sinia ware Moses got the camaonanets.
Sattaday 17 th very wame again just can see land we have had no rain since
we atated fromklack woald. I had 4 hours on gard last night most butfull
night _ they are quit bamey the stares most grand ther ware milions I never
seed half so maney nor the skey so prettey they was grat wight marks fare
across the skey they call them dansing stars the light houses shine out
it looked quit magic. Me and Ted has just been wishing our shirts and
handketsheves and toles we shall have a real wishing day not weak all been
well the men has just been houlden a counsell wether we are to scrub tomorow
or not- it been Sunday they ware just setteling the quitshon when i was
coming by them not to scrub the decantey houlden the cmmanments before them
that Thou shalt not do naey manner of work and so on when they asked me
and I so in to it I tok it in a nother light. I do that to revolt aganest
them that is sit over us was aganest the law to as thou shalt submit thy
self to all thy spritel pastures and masters and so on and that cleness is
next to Godleness and if it is nasary work it is not wrong as the jews fond
felt with the decliples for plucking the ears off of corn but our master did
not nore for saving the cattle that might want assants an a Sunday so I put
it us been so thickly stoesd on the ship cleaness is realey nesery for the
good of our health but the meeting was to decide the decenters should it
strong itis quit right some people strean at a not and can swallow a camall
it is a mostscaris tjing to rise aney disquise amonest near 800 people on a
wide sea eveal once begun no one can tell ware it stops so I tould them
blesed are the peac madders and left them. I seeeit was quit a check to
them I proposed to them to cleen it well again on Satteday night and trim
it up on the moring. P.S. the docter as given them Leaf so to do so I have
wound the day wich 5 thank well be a deal more to the purpose and I have
just been to the dockter to fix home medenscen for my wife, and I notice the
iron work on the ship that it is in the sun is that hot you can hardley bare
your hand on it I have herd say that as been so hot that it boils pich out
of the ship sides but I think she would have to be a new one it well not be
much hotter then now and I can bare it very well I think has I canot see
aney thing to right about time we can not see land I well try ti give you
all the useful information I can think of for the benfit to aney one that
may come after me towards lighting there expences the best things to get and
ware to get them has I now getter than those that are in a higher spear what
a person can manage with now for instance in these weaks that I am sailing
in I canot go no further you might do very well with 3 pairs of stockings 3
shirts one pare of light botts one pare of slipers one sute of strong close
to suits of light coles these you had better get at Malta you will get
them cheper and nicer and better you well have to pay 2.6 for a lite paire
of treises at Black woal and you will get better for a 1 at matta you can
get a nice sute 2.9 d and a good staw hat for 6 d worth 5 what you will get
at London you do not want flanel nor a gorsey at all this time of the year
and sheets you can wish them if you like some sheets and stockings on nick
tieys nor braces required you had better bring a tin of condeced milk a
nice bit of sugar 4 lbs a pound of tea you can suply your self on the voyage
a nice cut of ham cook and as meney nice cecks as you like some fruits salts
ansd a few lemons you will find all these things very much to your
adavatage when you have the sea sickness before you get uste to the ship
mess be cafull to bring some knives and forks so you can take care of youre
knew ones there very nice and old ones will do better you will not lose them
I tell you itis a cation to keep aney thing all most and a few old spoons
and a gill of brandy you will want no more and if you want to have a 1 in
your pocket you have plenty of roome to spend it on the voyage know I think
I have given you a fare explaniation for this time of the yeqar if ypu come
in the winter it makes the differance 1 night we we have had a good
concart and tetole leture the1 part speking was on the three P. Povety,
Privation and Ptison; and expland at a great lenth and it was exclentl;
trhen he tooke the trhee P the other way; Pesavreance, Prospraty and Prayer
and I never herd aney thing like it there was a few fornd after I am shure
the speker labourd hard he wasspaking on the word drink and he took eqach
letter I shud for drnkness ,k for kagness I for infordelty. N for neglect.
for killing now it was suprising what he made of it I am sure if they be a
drunkard on bord he should see his foolery and I dare say we have some anaby
not a few after the meeting a decanter gave out there would be a pray
meeting at 6 in the moring and we should have a good old fashend pray
meeting he sayed he hoped every nomanation would be there but realey I
could not bring my delf to joyn them if there had beeb a church Clegerman to
hasve led I coild have seen more in to a pld fashend meeting I might have
gon back as fast as bresttellin the people wich was the house of pray and
how he had his meetins ansd how he addressed his followees I can not do with
this runing away and picking a path for ourselves we must go by the lawe and
be joined to gether in one Church if a swarme of bees ware to leve a hive
with a leder it would be quit against the nature of bees and they would
perish all though there swarmed and acetd in in the same way in form we
thought aney right lowfull leder they would be as the foolish adivest- by a
servant let it be every so good then how much more weakness - must we be
possed with towards our almighty father floqs how dare we pick a path for
our selvs realy men is so blinded in his own self wilest he would be in his
oun creataure make make his oun lawe woke in his own paths bed other blind
people in them take all the world on with him to clame an inheritenc as they
would have it well earned ; when it is simpley given them all the time
throw- simpley faith beliving woking in the cammanents and Acting by them oh
dear I can not do with all this fuss and excitment it is like to me aman
geting stemuelating with drink has soon as the strinth is gon he is worse
then he was befor I do not like to sit in judgment -. nor be to hard but I
must right as I feel you might right the sane if you ware here-.
Sunday 19 th warme moring we get preave or mamarlade served out this moring
butter is all runing like fat our scrubing done last night it looks more
like sunday my wife a bit bitter very ill yestaday all the rest in good
healh the baths keept going from moring till 10 at night hardley can get a
turn;
Minday 20 th very wame in ded 90 degres in the shead drops of siwet rowls
down our fases when we do not stor it seems to powr out of our skin like
rain we was in the middle of the red sea yestaday we was expeting it cooler
I see pepole are braking out in - there skins with little red spots the
docter says we all shall as more I expet we have above a - munth sail yet it
dose seem a lony ride the Isarilits past over about 30 miles from the susez
I looked but I cold till no thing for sure ware it would be there is one
place most likley ware the rocks run contary to the sea making like a valey
I think that would be the place but I cold not say for tructh we ware faire
oposed the place ware the big battle was foat last year with the Arabs we
shall pass carrtoon ware gordn was soon I expet - we shall be at Adan on
Wedensday all been well the darkeys all dressed up yeataday moring in wight
with red handcetures round there wastes and some have red bands round there
hats they did look clean and grand and I beleive they filt so too one of
them had been seen to kiss one of our girls the girl. been worse then him
he was going about his work and she keept flowing him about and finely
hasked him to kiss her and the Matorn saw them they say if it happens
again they will put her in Irons they are very strict and they have a great
right to be I supose there as been some bad work goin on at times back;
After dinner me and Ted has just had a real wishing day but we have not
finished we shall have to have a nother turn in the moring we meane to keep
swisheed up if we can they soon smill if they are left diirty a man as lost
half pound of tobaca we have to keep a sharp look out amonst all these good
caricthers.
Tusday 21 st its very warm again I never spent such a night in all my life
we stude at 91 degres in our burhts we ware has if we wase bathed in water
all night suchcoiling of us they talk ofhaving a turkey bath in England but
we have one contunley we shall be all fit to ride light weghts when we land
if it contuneys kie this but I think it will git couler after a few days
and we past a Iland at 5 this moring called called Julabear not inhabeted
and 12 rocks called the 12 Apatels some a mile long and some lianth of the
ship we shall pass a nother Iland to day caled puple I think they say that
is the name;
12 o¹clock we have just pased the other it is uninabeted onley with birds I
like to have my gun in my pession I would have some of thim there is soem
buteys some of the bast I ever soc and flying fish littel short ones allmost
like bats we past through sholl of herrons this moring some thusands you
can have no icday. and we pased a place in the sea ware the sea was covard
with mudey slime I though it might flow from the Nile we are allways pasing
rocks now scatard along there is another sreamer sailing along side of us
we have come up with but we shall soon leave her nothing passes us but Mail
steamers this is the fuble day we have no differance onley the Childern get
a few swets given them you wiell be having grand dozings in england I hope
it is fine for you and not to warm we have had no rain yet.
6 th night we have been on the coast of Araba again to day we passed a
littel boat same as I have seen in painters lots of times with one lttel
sail it is as barran as ever I could not think there was so meney thousands
of miles of barrin land. I have got to know what that mud is that we keep
passing it is a dust blown out of the top of some grat valhen mountan and
swims off hunderds of miles we have passed sevrl vesils but it is very
dull we can not see very fare there is lots of sea weed floting on the water
the sea is as level there is scarce a riple to see in it ; it makes me
fell solam to see the wild boyiling sea so still the water is quit paill
collowed it is wounderfull how the water changis clower;
22 th We have got into Adan about 6 this moring we ware in the strats last
night at 10 we passed a town but we could not see any thing but the lights
Aden is a pectuler looking place rocks all about and houses on them the
first I see of it I thought the houses ware hen colls up they ware very low
about 4 foot high but I should say they ware cut out like sellers that would
be the poor people dwelings, when we turned round the rock there ware of
better stamp very prettey looking but onley small bult amonest the rocks
wase there is a legh big enof and it not some cut away to make room for a
house and some are quit on the livel and a drive on the side of them but no
sight of a green herb but a qunty of littel fish merids of them and birds
there is too of English gun boats Ancerd here and a few lager boats calling
and schoors of Aras small boats selling, all soats of things you can think
of I got 10 oringes for 1 s the bigest and best I ever soar tasted one it
is quit plenty at a time for aney one they are as big has a littel turnip
and skin as thin as sixpence lemon ade 2 d a bottel they are selling cloaths
again but I am tired of there coles they are poor stuf when we come to ware
them if I had to come again I should get some made at home they have horns a
yard long very sharp and strong to sell they are of some beast and jam and
pickls sugar tea as such like tined fish they have there coal in bags here
for us there ia a English Chourch here we can see by the buld the Docter
wont let us hadely been over the ship side he his afrade of us geting a sun
strok he tould them ever so meney times at lest he cote hould of one man by
the shirt in peces with it we had a good laugh the people are very small
here there arms and legs are like sticks and some have no hair on there
heads all shaved of others has mated woley hair like water dogs just they
must think we now very littel to what they do ask fore times the velue of a
thing at first when we come but they soon find out we have been ustd dealing
has well has them it is not so oprisef not here has what we have gon though
I expet we have gon trough the hotest now we have a month sail yet befor
they get to Asterlay 5 weaks befor they get to Brisband they go to the North
first 10 o¹clock they are slling small Cispage feders at 6 d each rasbery
wine 5d a bottle to mix water to make drink you can get aney sote you like
it is English a pare of cotton trouse and jacket 6 s they would cost 2 . 6
d at home the cotton is woreth 3 d a yard tobaccas and ceragares are deare
nerer we get to our distination and dearer other things is geting but they
are so crafty we can not get to now the market price of things they have
some ousterge egs to sell they are very lage above as big as a goose ege
there was one of our ducks got over boade and the lads that was swimming
about ware afrad of it they dare not touch it at last one of them got it in
a boat with his orre and held it down qwith it as if it wase an eagel;
After denner I find out we are not at Aden we are at the poat of Adan ware
the Aidgance and Marchean offecesis the rocks ware the signerlers given is
4000 feet high but I am shure it dose not look over 100 yards to me but it
is very deciven I will alow we may see Aden if we get of pote in day light
the letters cost 6 d each from here.
23 We are once more out on the sea it has been very ruff in the Inden sea
and there was one stemer come in pote yestaday we ought to have met her in
the suaszes she had lost 4 saillors been wished over boad and we passed
another this moring with her maskes broking up I expet we shall have it ruff
to and I am not in very good trim for ruff we are in a very unhelthy place
just now and the Capton is afrade of a storm and he keeps the Pote-holls
closed and we are very near smutherd with heat for this last 4 or 5 days it
has been very close my shirt as been wet on my back in bed and all of us if
I liik at the boys I can see swet streming down there fases we do not cover
our selvs at all but when the Boat holl is closed and no are can get to
us it is some thing au full all the breaths from so meney people we are
crowed I think if we can stand the vovige ther well be no fear of standing
the climatware we can get pure are if it be hot we shall not be smudard
with one another breath and heat that is closed up a lot of people was sick
last night that nevery had been befor some can stand one thing and some
another. The Poat Aden is in Araba we did not see the town its self but we
past some ennomous rocks it is very cam this moring we can hardely tell the
ship is going when we are down below we are quit usted to the water now we
think no more of been on the sea then if we wars on land I expet it would be
bad if aney one fill over here the sea is swaming with sharks. 10 o¹clock
we have a dearth on board this moring a child 15 mainths it well have
wartere grave poor thing the darkeys is having a holloday to day thay have
one deck to them selvs they are dressed grand all sotes of clowers it is a
manrandam day of some grat mans death they keep.
July 4 Dear frinds it is a long time since I have been able to right so I
think I have must try again although we have never seen mether land nor
rock since we left Aden but we have had a good deal of tossing on the sea
well to begeen that first the ship seemed to lift very soone has we got out
ot pote I looked for Aden but we never seed it onley very lage rocks till we
got farly of the Poat about the 2 deay the salours bugun to tie all down
with stucksrope and hand spikes every thing that was not boilted to the ship
they made fast and made prepration for some thing unusel to use well about
2 houres after they had don there worke the sea begun to use it hicked the
ship about like has if it had been a match lose loded with nothing first on
one side and then on the other the things that was teyd so tite rould about
making a noise like thunder and every thing that was loose in the ship wase
sent about all over boots came or aney thing that was movable roled back and
forwards making such a row and people shouting childern crying and some
laughing it was something I can not make you unde stand but my silf and wife
we ware so ill we just lade still not seening to carry what cane or went it
stell keeped on next day at dinner time I was startled it seened to get
worse our mate went for the mess and when he got below he set it on the
cupboad and it came an extery toss and it sent him to the other side of the
ship nearley knocking the since out of him with the mess and cupbord after
him I thought the mast must have folling it made such a row but I was so
weak I lay as if noght had happand it keeped on for 4 or 5 days bad but it
has none of it been good since we left Aden I got could and was swoling up
in my nick and could not eat aney thing I got so bad I though it was going
to be over with me I neverwas so bad in all my life you may dipend if you
are ill it is bad for you. you well get very littel atteanchen from the
Docter we are treted more like cattlel then men and women and the meat when
you are ill you canot take they made an Irish stew one day in one pan for
about 400 of us all to gether with tind meat you may think what soat of a
mess it was it onlely wanted some barley meall in it and them it was pig
meat what I have got to say proved plenty of things befor you come on boad
you might manage if you eare well in a way but if you are porley it is a
cattion.
July 6 th We are know at batava it is very hot hotter then at sea it is very
pretty place coanut trees and all soats seems to be round the Abour there is
not meney buldens round it but a lot of big ships leying in the Abour the
cuntery is coverd with trees all over as far ahas you can see and we can see
a long way it is unabated very well by the look we can see houses and spires
peeping up here and there there is too men of ware ships leying in the
Abour we are going to stop here 24 hours I wish we ware off again I am tired
of been on the ship all though I am geting a deal better our own men are
geting coal in here they well not have the people on boad here they are
afrade of fever it is such a sickley place it is very nice to see trees
again and the ground green for we have never seen a tree nor a cow not aney
thing but what we see on the suez canall since we left gravsend another days
if all be well we expect to see look town and a weak after that Rockhampton
and oh shant we be pleased.
July We left boat yestaday abouit 11 we had a long stay we took a large
quantey of coal in but no prevshens has they are afrade of geting some
deaces it is very unhethey place I was too ill to take much notice of the
place I had coat could again and hade a bad head again but I am thankfull
to-say I am much better this moring again we are not fare from land we can
see it all the way know the land looks to be cultavated there is trees to
look at wich makes it look a deal pleanter the wind blows a good brees it
blows the water on deck but the ship dose not toss so much as she did she
runs very stedey we past a place in the sea ware there was a stright mark by
to derrifand waters one was real blue the other gray and the destinchen is
as clear as is it had been a edg puting too filds it is the moast gurs¹s
thing I have seen it parted the Inden oachan and the Jabous sed no one could
think that too seas could meet and be so derrifant in coulour to an hair
brith and in such a _ stright line without miring it is just the same as if
you poured red ink and black in to a pan and the red just met the black in
the half way and there is lots on the ship that never seed it we passed a
cupell of sailling ships to day they ware full rigd they looked nice on the
water but they do seem to go slow you can hardley tell they stur thire is
some big mountans we can see I supose there are in Holland beloing to the
Duch Batava in Holland all the people is tired of been on board I made a
good dinner to day we had pea broth and salt Pork but now I never get aney
thing for breakfast but to or three spoons fullof shiilley I canot eat the
bread they have killed the old cow last night and they well boill her up
for us she is quit a old sailour she as been 4 or 5 voyiges and she was very
thing but we had some sheep as thing as aney thing you ever see in your
lives you rembour Brother John them pigs we see when we went seeking
harvasting you and me and Bill Beal well these sheep puts me in mind of thim
know I am not over the mark when I say that no one would credit I could not
think they to be killed but they did and cooked them tpp I never eat such
mutton in all my lifw it was like picking a shellinton but it is to be hoped
we shall soon be at the end now;
July 11 th Munday itis nice plesant wither we keep in sight of land all
along now there is a lot of mountans a very grat highttowring above the
clouds but when we can get a glimps over or beond the cuntry is covard with
trees I can not say what size thay look like bushes to the eye but the men
that has glasses says they are a good size the people seem to live by
fishing and hunting they have a lot of small boats here and there on the
shore in clusters and we could see they had fires camp fires amoinst the
bushes we are tould they grow coffer and rice over the hills it is very
grand to look upon there is hardley aney birds to be seen which suprises me,
we have had three dearths on the ship know three childern and one man the
last child was ded soon after it was born the man was an Irish man poor
fellow he got could and it brought inflamation on and he lay some days and
the Docter gave him nothing till it was to late then they took him to the
infirmary they have one on ship and - pultised him but it was to late he had
noat but a dose of salts for a weak he died at 9 at night and they put him
in the sea at 11 they onely gave him 2 hours it semed to strik a horro
trough the ship there is a - deall of complaing of the Dockter he is the
most neglictest flowe I ever know and some of them is alwase complaing about
the living but I must say it is something aufull we are all geting like
selatans all I can take in a moring to breakfast is to or three spoons full
of oatmeal porige and my wife the same the bread is sower oft but it allways
has a smell we canot take it and the butter is like fat swiming about and
treakel is has thin as water nearly we have got the patos all done and they
have some presarve tatosit is funny stuff and tind neat for ever they have
tind up most of the oldcow tif I had - known I would have had a good stock
of ham and buskets and such things I very seldom take of my close aney thing
but my jackket and wascoat the beds as got as hard has board. I shall trow
them in to the sea whern we land and good by to them I wish it was just now
if ever I com back to old - England it will not be with the Britsh Inden
line they tell me it is the worst line that sails they mean nothing but
making muney out of us I am tould that they have so much muney to provide
for us and if they can run us on short they can make a lot of muney by
selling what is- spaird or bying less for a nother vovige I supose it is the
Docter and strard and a few of the ehad that shire the spoill so you may now
what diffrince there cam be in ships through these men such villans the
Docter thinks nothing if a person aplays for aney medson of keeping thim a
day wet though leting them nearly Aricked in pain I myself asked him a
littel after 12 one day and it was 9 at night befor I got it and I could
have freley have jumped over boad I had so much pain in my head and I was
three days once and he did nothing but ask me how I was and I had not eating
a bight I should shure eniff been alomng with the Irish man in the sea if it
had not been for my wife she knew what the loss would be to her and she
flowed him up she was not to be put of the know she was right we have passed
6 sunday now I hope we shall never pass one more like tem when we leave the
ship it is a real heathen ship I think.
July 14 The wither has kept geting cooler ever sence we crossed the line we
are in the Aurstalen warters now and it is a could moring I filt quit could
up on deck we are having a long voyage the captan is very nirvis we have
been stopt to or three times in the Nights we wase stopt 8 hours one night
some says we ware in shallow warter some amonist the rocks, butI do not now
what was the reson but thee was some danger some way or the ship would not
have been stopt we have seen no land of a day or two and the wind as kept
blowing and the ship hevesconley and it has made people sick I have to hould
my head with one hand wile I wright with the other we have green peas for
dinner.
July 16 The wether cuntenues fine and nice and cool just like Aperl in
England we have just been 10 days in coming to Thursday Iland it has taken
us two days longer then it ought the capten never has been that way befor
and he stoped in the night afrade of rocks but here we are at last long
expeted and wished for we havejust past the quensland govment- Docter they
would not let us go in if we had aney fever amonest us we should have to lay
of in the ship for 5 meenths it is going to onley be a short stop here the
next well be cook town queenstand a days saill from here; this onley a
small place all hills planted with - fruit trys about 5 feet high the people
make there living with fishing a good deal there is onley a few small boats
laying about and a few houses it looks very pretty the water is a - reale
blue there is a few sea birds not meny we are going to descharge a small
quanty of out cargoe here the childern broke up schooling yestardat they
all get there slats and pens and pincels geven they ware verry plesed I
surpose we have got 6 engens for queensland and railway mettles and pig
Iron; I see a nice little Church amongest the trees and a house- like has
if it ware the Clargmans house.
This is sunday moring and we have just have set sail for Cook town it is a
butfull moring us cool and nice has aney moring I ever saw in England it
well be very hot here in summer that well be-Dectember it is the most
Nothern Poat of queensland so you may juge for your selves how hot it will
be we are saling to the North;
We are in the Torrel strates and it is very nice ther oft is land in boath
sides but there is pices of land here and there all over coted over like
them round plunps in Londesborough park. some deal larger coverd with trees
we pased a most butfull place this dinner time littel Iland on boats sides
all coverd with trees they stud up a grat hight and from 6 to 7 feet from
the bootm it is all rock and like water folls there was a house or to on
them and a lot od birds it was very strate wich made it look all the
prettery maby 150 yards wide there was a sailing visel came by just at the
time at a grat speed the wind fare behend it; the land looks has if it had
snow on it at a distance but it canot be snow there is grat wight paches I
do not make out what they are I suspose there is a deal of sharks in these
warties.
Munday 18 The paches that leys like snow is wight sand I find out the strats
we past in Albeny pass we are on the North of queensland we can see large
lots of smok arising in places but itis onley Nataves there is no
cultavation we ware stopt from 11 last night tell 5 this moring there is so
meney sand beds and rocks they dare not sail in the dark we past a wreck on
a sand bed yestarday I expet we shall be at cook town in good time in the
moeing we are 10 1/ 2 hours befor you now and the sun is on the other side
of us in a moring now.
Tusday moring we got in to this Poat there is onely a few small boats leying
at the mouth of the river cook town leys some miles of they meet us with a
littel packet to take the people of there is onley about 6 to go of here I
thinkCook town was a place of 10,000 inhabance but there is onely a very few
Eurpance in it ther wase some gold mines but they are done so the people
have moved from it we are very glad it got so near hand our end of the
voyage allthough they say we havd had a good one but it has not been all
plesant sailing to me I thought we ware tost about plenty- some times but
when we got over it pepole for get it but the worst hase been the bad foodd
and Docter atendance it has been Dredfull we are near famashed when we wase
stopt at Thursday Iland there was a old ship lade out they use for store in
goods in and they ware very dear I gave 1 s for a pint of viniger 6 d for a
pound of binans 2 shillens for a poiund biskets 1 s 6 d for a small tin of
coca about as big has a 3 d ink bottel full and last night my wife came at
bed time to me and asked me if I cold get aney thing to eat she sad she was
famesheing so I wated till I cold see a darkey and I begd him to get me a
small pice of bred and chese. so he got me a small lofe of bread mabey 1 d
in England and a bit of chese crust in my hand 1 shillen but what can we do
when we are - so hungery I hope aney bodey that comes in a ship like this
well previde plenty of eatables if they bring a side or to- of backon more
then they want they cand sell it to others and make a fine thing oft it and
a few stones of oinens and tind samon and - some buskits and fruit salts are
aneything to make drinks of and aney eatables may sell at a good profit coca
ar aney thing like that ginger to make ginger tea is a nice change when you
fancey som quer things when you atre on the water when you can get nothing
do not for get a box of pills and a lettel swet niter and a few of such
like things a bottel of good Pote Wine you well now the want of if you are
brought down and have a Docter like this he semes to begruge every littel
thing you -want i have no dout but well belive I have not made made aney
thing no worse than it has been on this ship I can not - say for aney other
but what ever line of ship you may com by what I have got to say I have
sayed and it is good eniff to understand it is real muney making jobe
amonest the head of the ship affars.
Wednsday we have reached Towin valla this moring 24 hours saill it looks as
ruff has ever real hilly and the littel woden house looks like wight sheets
spred out ware we are Ancard about 8 mi;es of we canot get up with our large
ship they meet us with a stemer to take of the people the bay is butfull as
calm as glass and all the hills are covard with bushes we had a letter from
Peat Beal this moring - saying he would be happy to meet us and we ware very
glad we are to take our beds with us we should have trown them in to the sea
if we had not had the letter for there is a deal of filth on the ship we
shall be at Rockhampton on Sataday I think there is plenty of work here we
here.
Thursday it is a grand moring there was a - fine dive I was up about 5 and
the town was all lighted up the houses loked to be larges them we supose by
the show of the lights I had a look through a glass and it looked grand but
we canot tell realy what it is like so fare of the abour swames with fich
and seebirds it well be a grand abour some day I have no dot it is so well
shilterd with the big rocks all round, when the Docter came to inspeck the
people for town vaila he did not want meney to land he had no Spelations at
all for this place but they wanted 50 farm men 2 grooms 5 gardenrs 3 marred
cupels for Mackay nixt - poat they soon got them farm labours 15 a weak plow
men £ 1 grooms £ 1 I do not know what marred cuples got Charley Mowthrope is
going to get of at Mackey.
Friday very wame we are just heving the ancer I expet we shall be at Bowing
in 2 hours the Ade Dent that took the people away returend the moring and
grough back one marred famely there is very littel call for men with young
famely here at Town vaille it is mining and suger growing the railway has
not begun yet but it will do in a shotr time then it well make alot of work
the single men and women are hired up has fast as they land joiners are
picked up it is a very good place for thim the young carpeterns could have -
stoped at Thursday Iland a £ 3 a weak some of them but they would not stop
you see it is most wood work wood hoses wood is in grat use her Iron been
vey dear I expet a axe is used to shop wood with we get frish meat every day
now and patoes very good meat and a great treat to us.
Sattaday we got into- Boying last night 1/2 eight stoped 2 hours a few got
of but we could not see what the place wase like anley the ship could get
right into the abour I thought it would be a nice place if we had seen it in
day light; P.S we got here to Mackay at 8 this moring and we sent betwesct
50 and 60 ynog men all having got work some young women and 3 marred men
the men was to have 15 s a weak all found for a start a groom got £ 1 a weak
marred cupels 60 £ a year and they wanted 10 carpenters and they onely got
one there is a good demand for thim no young carptenrs nede want work onely
he well come out here we are some miles off the town so I can not say aney
thing what itis like it is a real sugar port this they grow 1 tons or better
to the Acer and there is some 100 of Acers they growe thousands of thuns.
July 30 th Rockhampton Emigrant we came in here last munday moring fore
o¹clock in the moring we left the ship at half past ten we left in a littel
stamer then we had 33 miles to go up a river it was very could but I took us
all a good blanket with us and it was a strok of good fourton I did for
they ware of grat value to us when we got to the stalls I can call them
nothing eles they are just like a wooden stable in England but glass windows
but they are all smashed they gave us some beds of dry grass but the sengel
men got noat but a blanket there was 12 singel men 11 girls and us the
sengel men is soon engage at 15 s a weak and meat and the sengel women has
plenty of ofers but I do not know what they are geting I have not got aney
thing yet but I have had no time yet to look out all though marred men gets
engage worst it is the worst for to get a start we have been washing to days
I was as tired with washing as ever I was with mowing we had such a stack of
durty cloes we bought a lot of sheets, wenn the young men left the ship at 1
s a pair and we could get 2 s 6 d a pair here for them we want to sell our
blankets we bout in England them us gave 18 s is worth 28 s here fenders and
- furs Sirens harth rugs is no use here I went to by some cartages they are
17 s 6 da 100 s in England a revolver is just dubell I asked to look at a
gun is worth the £ 10 here there is not a deal to shoot round the town I
went out one day to aplace ware some ducks is but I did not get none there
is some but we want to be there in a moring drack ducks is 4 s a cupel there
was a pretty bird came over me blue and green and dirrefant cullors has lig
as a wood pigen with a cony beak I let fly down he came and O what a row
there was such a lot more screemed out he fell in the water I stript my
close of and tin I went up to my middell of my wast when I got to him I
hardely dare touch him he looked so viches but I took my hat withe me and I
collerd him withe it I though I had got a prise he was not dead so I got a
stick to put him out of his misery and I gave him a good strock on - the
head but it did not make much effect so I gave him some more but to make it
short after trying to kill him with a stick every so many times I was forst
to deith there I put him in my pocket and marched of withe him for home but
I had not gon fare before I had to strip once more to wade out of som warter
again I got out all right again and got to my mates and has soon as they saw
what I had shut they very near crack them selves with laughing. I did not
know what to think what they ware laughing hat well they say you are under £
5 fine you have shot a laughing jackass they hill snakes si I had to trow it
into the bush I wonder what I should shut first in queenland but I did not
think it would be a laughing jackass the warter hens is as big again here
and very good Bill - Welson got one the sane day it is a butfull river I was
sorrey it was night when we came up we could see nothing a man went down the
river 17 miles and got 17 turkeys and sould them at 3 . 6 d each. Twelde
sheets is 1. 11 d a yard the other is 1.6 d you can get a pine Aple for 3 d
that well do for all of us.
Agust 2th there is onely me and one singel man left in the depot now I had
chance last night to work in a stone qurrey at 7 s a day but it is a very
ruff job and dengers and five miles away and we should have to buy our
tucker as they call meat here of the foman and there was no place to sleep
for a fimely the singel men sleep in a place with thim selves Charley
Mowthorp went to the gold fields but it is very slack just now so he came
back but he got engaged yestaday and went last night at half past 10 he had
to go 90 miles by warter and then walk 14 he is working on a farm it is more
south the man would have taking Ted but I do not like engage him till I know
ware we are going to it is worse for a marred man with a femely then aney
other to get a sturt.
Agust 4th it is nice and coole out here yet Ted got a place I took him on
the 2 we did not bargen to usage. It is a difuld thing to now the value of
a lad like him his master is a getill man I think a mirchant Ted has too
horses to groom and the garden tp keep tidy it is a mileout of town I see
his nisses - when I took him she came out of the west of England 11 years
since there name is Newton she semed a very kind Lady I was talking to her a
long time when I took Ted she tould me nothing can be grown round the - here
it is a mineing place it is a real bad clay they can make good bricks here
bricks is £ 2 and £ 1.10. 0 a thousand and wood is 12 s 6 d for a 100 feet I
think brick houses can be buld as cheep as wood onley brick layers wages is
1 1/ 2 for 8 hours it is good place for them and joiners there is no mistake
and will be when trade gets up again there has been a drought here for 4
years till now there has been rain the cattel has died by thousands so the
squaters doae not want so meny hand and they flock down and fills the touns
and it makes it bad fo rall it is just the same as all the bige
manafactarers at home parting with half there hands but in cause of a lettel
time now when rain has come that soon - well be better people say there is
very lettel traffic done on the centerl railway yet onely 2 trains a day we
had Ted down last night and the maden the came to fetch some bread Ted was
had happey as a king he had 2 oringes geven him he brought his mother one
and his misses sent 11 eges withe the maden Ted had been diging in the
garding and he dug a amall snake up. there is a gentell man coming to engage
Ernest this moring to sun earns and hould the horses and make him self
usfull I expet there well be some work for me soone but we are in the home.
After dinner Ernest has gon to a place 5 s a weak if he sutes 4 s for the
first 6 months 5 s for the next they will have there meat here me and the
boys ware in the town one after noon and they wanted some Bananas that is a
kind of frut I like them the Chinies sell them 2 a peney but the shops 1 so
Ernest kept going into the shops trying to get to for his peney but he could
not so we ware making for home we though any when a Lady steped up and asked
me if it ware oringes they wanted I tould her it waseBananas Oh she says
they shall have some barnas so she gave them 2 s to buy some the boys stud
looking at me they did not now what to think and I was very near as bad if
it had been a few coppers I should not have been so siprised I had to tell
her all about our selvs then she left me I do not now who it was we went to
the Church last sunday such a butfull one I should think it well hould 2000
people a new one and a splend chior 28 I beive all in surpless ansd a grand
orgen there is a large congation they had a coection and it struck me the
derrefence here and at hjome in stead of peneys it was all silver there is a
deal of rich people them that has been here a long time it is a start aney
one wants in this cuntrey we shall have to ruff it at the first that is
plain but think we shall be all right after a wile but I would not wish any
marred frinds to come out here yet I can see a glarge battle to fight befor
me if I have my health and the Lord blesses ua please forgive me for all
mistakes and bad spelling
Ever belive me
Yours affatonate from
H. Johnson.
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