Search -
A Tour Through the Australian Colonies in 1839
A Tour Through the Australian Colonies in 1839 Author:A. Russell Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: 18 JOURNAL. CHAPTER III. JOURNAL—OUTWARDS. Place of embarkation—Emigration scenes—and Occurrences incident to a life at sea. Greenock, 2lst Nov. 1838... more ».—CURIOUS scene, an emigration one—every one inquiring at his neighbour, and no direct answer to be had, till at last told we can't sail to-day, so went to theatre, by way of passing an uncomfortable evening, as every face is looking more dismal than the weather itself, which is bad enough—saw a parting scene well performed, but did not equal what I witnessed among the emigrants and their friends yesterday— there was no disembled sorrow there. 22d. All bustle this morning—passengers, friends, servants, emigrants, spectators, dogs, trucks and carts at quay with luggage—went out with steamer, and joined our ship, which had driven a considerable distance the previous day down channel, the wind being very high. After taking possession of a poop berth, I got time to look about, and found the JOURNAL. 19 most of our emigrants on board—parting scenes again increased double fold—while our live stock, each kind in their own way, were protesting against the transportation system with the loudest voice, drowning every other sound but the clink of the windlass, as they weighed anchor—got upon the poop, and had a bird's eye view of the scene going on—the order at last given, strangers and friends to leave the ship. I may afterwards describe it more particularly. Floods of tears were shed, the hand was grasped in silent, but deep felt sorrow, parents were parting from children—the little ones were torn from the arms of the fond and indulgent relative, perhaps never to meet again. Was joined on the poop by T who had numerous friends to bid the farewell. We mustered a cheer at parting the steamer for the shore, with many a ...« less