Explore "Ancient Sydney" by Rolf Boldrewood on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Our good barque anchored in Launceston harbour in 1831-about the same year, by the way, in which Marcus Clarke's dream-ship, the _Malabar_, ended her eventful voyage to the same port. The writer's father owned and commanded the vessel. Our steerage passengers were of the same class as those of the _Malabar_, being a draft of convicts, in process of deportation to the strange South land, there to undergo experimental discipline, which to some meant probationary industry-the path to a prospective fortune; to others, a slave's dread life, a felon's shameful death.
Ruffians doubtless cursed and caballed among the two hundred prisoners which crowded the lower deck, but they were in a minority. A herd of luckless peasants constituted the main body; found guilty of rick-burning and machine-breaking only-crimes common enough in England, before the repeal of the corn-laws.