THE vessel selected for our transportation was the barque Asia, of about 500 tons, commanded by Capt. Freeman; and in this strong teak-built ship all the members of our family, excepting my noble self, came out as what were called "Intermediate Passengers." These had to pay their passage, but as I was about the age to entitle me to go free, I had the honor of coming out as an emigrant. In the matter of food these "Intermediates" fared the same as the "Emigrants," and beyond paying passage-money I really cannot say what difference there was between these two classes. We left Deptford in the beginning of March, 1839, with upwards of 200 emigrants in charge of Dr. Mayo, who, in a similar capacity, had previously paid a visit to the Colony with a batch of emigrants.

      We had Capt. Duff as a passenger, a Mr. Garrett, a family by the name of Oliver, Messrs. J. Pickering, John Hill, T. Frost, and several others who, with their posterity, became well-known colonists. My father, who had been so many years at sea, was quite at home on board ship, but my mother, who was a bad sailor, had a bad time of it. Our troubles began in the Bay of Biscay, which knocked us about in its usual style; and the hatches were battened down so that the seas we shipped should not swamp the 'tween decks. When the weather moderated, and we got into warmer latitudes, the passengers came on deck; and those who could not walk were carried up, my mother being among the latter. When we came down the Channel the icicles were hanging on the shrouds, so that the milder weather was an agreeable change.

      Life on shipboard was what I had long desired, and I now took a lively interest in the sails, the ropes, and the rigging. There was one drawback, however, which militated against the [18] pleasure I would otherwise have experienced. The duties that devolved upon me as the eldest of the family, necessitated my frequent absence from deck to attend to such menial work as taking things to the galley to be cooked, fetching them back, washing up plates and dishes, and sundry other kinds of work usually performed by household servants. There were two galleys for cooking purposes on board, one for the cabin and one for the emigrants. The ship's cook had charge of the former, and if any of the emigrants or intermediate passengers required any special cooking, if a charge was not made, this functionary had to be paid for services rendered. By this means some corks made a considerable sum of money, as well as by the sale of the dripping or fat saved during a long voyage. Our cook took great care of all the bones of the fowls that came from the cabin, and from these he made a decoction of "chicken broth," which he sold at so much per pint. This liquid was well seasoned with pepper, so that it could safely be said to be strong; and if not particularly nourishing, it was appetising. As my mother could not partake of the ship's provisions, this said "chicken broth," with eggs and other dainty things, of which we had a good stock, purchased in England as part of our outfit, had to be procured for her, or I feel sure she could not possibly have survived the voyage. Two of the emigrants presided at the general cooking galley, and it was amusing to see the number and variety of things brought up day by day to be placed in the capacious boiler that was to prepare them for dinner. One of the cooks at this galley was Tom Battle, who was, I think, the first Adelaide Pieman; and his well-known cry of "Pies, all hot, all hot," could be heard in all the inhabited parts of the city in those early days.

      On reaching the "Line" the usual interesting proceedings were enacted, the most harmless of which was the placing of a hair or silk thread across the lens of the telescope, in order to convince the most simple and sceptical that we were actually crossing the veritable locality. The bursts of laughter that followed the exclamation of the delighted and satisfied ones of, "Oh yes! I see it," were of course quite natural on the part of those who were aware of the delusion. As the day proceeded, and Neptune made his appearance, matters assumed a far more serious aspect. The sailors found that some of those who were below would not come on deck to be shaved, etc., and they determined to bring them up by force. The rule with reference to this barbarous custom was, that any who had previously crossed the "Line" were free from the penalty of shaving, etc.; [19] and instead of making proper enquiry as to those who could and those who could not claim immunity, they proceeded indiscriminately to take one and all. Some who had never paid their respects to Neptune determined that they would not do so on this occasion, and when the sailors came below with ropes to haul up those who would not comply, pistols were presented, with an intimation that anyone who resorted to force would be shot. One Gillett, who had no pistols, had a wooden leg, which he quickly unstrapped; and holding it up threatened to bring it down upon the head of the first man who attempted to interfere with his personal rights and liberties. Matters were getting more and more grave, and I was told to go up quietly and inform Dr. Mayo of what was going on below. The worthy doctor was soon on the scene, and exercising his authority the sailors were ordered on deck, and tranquility was speedily restored.

      Our butcher was a man whose work was not very heavy, and as

he discovered a plan, while we were in the warm latitudes, for gratifying his mischievous propensities. Many of the 'tween-deck passengers, finding it very suffocating below, brought their mattresses up and placed them on the quarter-deck. Here they could get a sound and comfortable sleep, and occasionally slept beyond the time for washing the decks. One morning the butcher succeeded in getting these deck sleepers up in good time, not so much for the purpose of facilitating the operations of the sailors, as for a little diversion. The pigs were kept in the long-boat, and on the occasion referred to he turned them out early on deck to roam about at pleasure. Whether he drove them in the direction of the quarter-deck, or whether they went there of their own free will, I know not; but he got the credit of sending them there among the sleepers, who were roused up by the grunting of the swine; and these unwelcome visitors, finding themselves in strange company, grunted all the more. As the alarmed sleepers awoke there was very soon a stampede of pigs, followed by a stampede of those who had been aroused; and as the pigs were caught and placed again in confinement, the diversion was brought to a close. These pigs did not improve with keeping, and their weakness was seen as they attempted to walk on, or rather stagger along, the deck. The official in charge of them had notice that he was not to repeat the performance referred to, so that those who wished to sleep on deck might do [20] so without fear of being disturbed again in the manner mentioned. Another charge brought against this important functionary was, that on one occasion he actually was guilty of killing a dead pig. It was averred by an early-riser that on looking into the long-boat one morning be saw that one of the occupants had died during the night; and that on informing the butcher of the fact, he used his knife at once, and actually prepared the carcase for cooking-purposes.

      Shortly after crossing the Line an incident occurred that created a great deal of alarm, especially in the minds of those who had read and heard about the doings of pirates. One morning a suspicious-looking craft was observed in the offing, sailing apparently in the same direction as we were, sometimes nearer and sometimes further away. She could sail much faster than our old tub, which, under the most favorable circumstances, could only do about eight or nine knots an hour. At times the stranger seemed to be making towards us, and again altered her course, as if undecided whether to make straight for us or to keep at a respectful distance. Towards evening she could be seen steering a course that was likely to intercept us, and it was deemed desirable to make preparations for eventualities. Our captain appeared to be quite unprepared to face the foe, if such it should prove to be; and Captain Duff volunteered his services for the emergency. All the men were ordered on deck, and all the women and children were sent below; and some idea can be formed of the painful suspense those between-decks were kept in for some time. When within speaking distance a shot was fired by the stranger, which the man at the helm saw fall into the water astern of our vessel. This was followed by the enquiry through the speaking-trumpet, "Who are you?" Captain Duff immediately replied, "Asia, bound to Botany Bay with convicts." Of course only men could be seen on our deck, which seemed to confirm the Captain's lie; and as the stranger did not expect to get much specie or valuables in a convict-ship, she took leave of us with a parting shot, and the message, "Port your helm and go"--somewhere.

      The departure of the mysterious stranger was a relief to all on board our vessel, but it was deemed advisable to keep a strict watch through the night, lest we might betaken unawares by another visit. Quietness was enjoined through the night watches, but next morning there was a great noise and a scene of great activity on deck. The deck-guns, of which there were six or eight, were cleaned and fired, cutlasses brightened and sharpened, pistols and all kinds of weapons of warfare on board prepared for use in the [21] event of their being required. This, of course, was very much like "locking the stable-door after the horse was gone," but it gave those on board a feeling of greater security, by being prepared to repel an intruder should one appear again on the scene.

      The pirate referred to was not the only enemy that visited us on the voyage, others presenting themselves in the shape of measles and whooping-cough. These diseases attacked the juveniles with great and fatal effect, and we lost twenty-five in all; as many as three in one family. The great heat, when near the "Line," proved too much for many of the little ones; and one after another they succumbed. Three in one day had to be committed to the deep, the last of them in the evening, the funeral service being read by the light of a lantern. A burial at sea under ordinary circumstances is a sad sight, but when the mourners are gathered round the gangway at dark, or the darkness made more visible by the feeble light of a candle, it is doubly impressive. These deaths cast a gloom over all on board, and for a time there was a suspension of all kinds of amusements; but after the deaths and burials ceased there was a return to the usual order of things. Many years after the burial at sea of the third child committed to the deep in one day, musing upon the event, I penned the following lines:--

      As the voyage proceeded my interest in nautical matters increased, and I made myself thoroughly acquainted with the various ropes and their uses. On one occasion my knowledge, and the use I made of it, got me into trouble; and this taught me in future to mind my own business. We were scudding along with studding-sails set, and a strong breeze springing up, the order was given to take in the main-topgallant studdlng-sails. As soon as "Let go the halyards" was called out by the officer in command I made a rush for the rope, and instead of taking a turn on the belaying-pin I held the rope in my hands, and had either to allow it to go by the run, take the skin off my hands, or be taken up with it. I was powerless to ease it off gradually, so away went the sail in the wind, away went the skin off my hands, and away went the sailors out to the yard-arm to get it in the best way they could. The officer was anything but complimentary to me, using language altogether unfit for polite ears; and I suppose the sailors aloft, seeing I had given them so much extra trouble and had exposed them to danger, did anything but commend me for my promptitude in doing what I ought not to have done. I may just explain that studding-sails are only used when there is a fair and moderate breeze, and they are spread out by means of a boom run out from the yard-arm. A ship with all ordinary, and these extraordinary, sails set, is as pretty a sight as can be seen at sea.

      One part of the daily routine on board ship was particularly interesting to me, namely, the heaving of the log, by which the rate of speed at which we were going was ascertained. The process is a simple, but I suppose it is an efficacious one, and I will briefly describe it for the information of the uninitiated. A sailor stands on the poop or at the stern of the vessel holding up in his hands a cylinder on an axle, with a handle at each end. Another sailor throws out at the stern a line with a square piece of cork at the end, and a number of knots at certain equal distances from each other. As soon as the line is thrown overboard the officer turns a glass, like an egg- or hour-glass; and when the sand has run out the line is not allowed to run out any further. When the line is drawn in the knots are counted, and the speed of the vessel is recorded in the log book. From this it will be seen what is meant by a sailing-vessel or steamer going at the rate of so many knots; and as there is a want of precision in the method, some allowance is made in the question of miles, and a little more is generally allowed for miles than knots. The daily taking of the altitude of the sun, when the sun is visible, [23] is considered the correct method for ascertaining the exact position of the vessel at noon.

      Passengers who have only travelled by steamers can form no idea of what has to be done in the case of sailing-vessels which meet with contrary winds. When such are encountered the poor sailors have a bad time of it, because they have to be called up, even if it is their watch below, every time the order is given to "'Bout ship." The position of all the sails has to be altered, and all the sailors are required to assist in the operation. After the vessel has proceeded sufficiently long on one tack, she has to go on another, so the process has to be repeated until a fair wind is met with, or one on the quarter. This tacking-about is generally attended with discomfort to the passengers, as on these occasions their movables take the liberty of going from side to side as the vessel lurches over on each tack.

      As usual on long voyages, we encountered storms and were subject to calms, and just had to take the rough with the smooth, as in the course of life. A storm at sea is a truly grand sight, and I rather enjoyed it; barring the difficulty of walking the deck with both hands full on my way to and from the cook's galley. Standing on the forecastle it appeared at times as if the vessel were about to plunge herself into the surging mass at our bows, but as the Asia was what sailors call a thorough "browser," we did not ship so much water as if our stem had been wedge-shaped. The waves would come against our wooden wall with great force in a storm; and the bows would sent them back as if indignant at the attack--the contact ending in a mass of spray and foam. To stand on the poop it seemed at times as if the immense waves at the stern would, with one fell swoop, sweep everything off the deck; but they seldom intruded on board, contenting themselves with lifting themselves up and then spending their power at a respectful distance. It is a pretty sight to see, in rough weather, the stormy petrel, the albatross, and other sea-birds disporting themselves over and over on the briny deep, without the slightest fear of the tempestuous sea around them. May we not learn a lesson from them of trusting in our Creator and Preserver in the midst of the storms of life, knowing that a kind Providence is watching over us; and that if we are in the Lord's hands nothing can by any means harm us?

      The storms of wind and wave were not the only ones we had on the voyage, and it can easily be imagined that a number of men, women, and children, of vastly different temperaments and dispositions, would have disagreements occasionally. It was said [24] of one of the feminine gender that she quarrelled with almost everyone on board, and having thoroughly established such a character, it was not considered singular to come under the influence of her unruly member. Displays of bad temper are not altogether unknown on shore, but they are sure to be developed on board ship. I remember the case of one on land that exceeded all I ever met with anywhere. The possessor of it might even be the subject of pity by some; but I cannot say that I had much for such an one, as I thought it savored too much of self-indulgence. This person once made an attack on me with her unruly member, with little, if any, real provocation; but she had a fit on at the time, and must expend her pent-up feelings on someone. I can warm up at times--warmer, I know, than I ought to be; but on this occasion I kept unusually cool.

      The cool way in which I received the torrent of abuse was too much for her, and after expending all the ammunition she had to no purpose she actually cried with vexation and disappointment. Sometimes to her husband it was "Johnnie, dear!" but at other times Johnny had to keep a sharp lookout for his head if he wished to preserve it whole. Of course we had some grumblers an board, who found fault with the provisions and other things; it was quite understood that the worst of them had never fared so well before in their lives. There were also some on board who had not left their religion behind them as is sometimes the case when people forsake the associations which have had an influence for good over them. When the weather would permit, Dr. Mayo conducted Divine service each Lord's-day on the quarter-deck, the capstan occupying the place of a pulpit, covered with the Union Jack. During the week a band of praying men and praying women visited certain parts of the 'tween-decks, and conducted services occasionally.

      After we had been at sea upwards of four months and a-half we were told that we would sight land in a day or two, which was really good news, as we had not seen such a sight since leaving England. This announcement was followed by something like a carousal, and at the critical time of all others when those in command ought to be in a position to navigate the vessel, they were totally unfit to do so. After sighting land, the course steered actually took us soon after dark within a short distance of the rocks off Cape Borda, so near that the breakers could be seen and heard. Seeing the imminent danger to which we were exposed, Capt. Duff and my father took upon themselves to have the vessel's course altered with all possible speed, and after a few [25] moments of painful suspense the ship was put about, and was headed seaward again. After daylight next morning we made for Investigator Straits, and had the pleasure of sailing along Kangaroo Island, which was in sight nearly all day. Next morning we sailed up the Gulf, and, as it was the middle of July, the land in sight looked at its very best. [26]

[CLACE 18-26]