Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1844-11-30

lhey are then taken to large barrack at Sid
ney or Hobart Town; the Government or colo
NAL officers come in body to examine these
ou'casts OF their native soil the surgeon COM
mander brings out Government paper for eve.
ry man, called an indonture. This paper is ut-
der many heads their name or names, height,
age, country, color of hair, eyes, moles, marls
how often in jail, what jails, what crime. The
Governor stands by while his head officer holds
this indenure in his hand, and asks his ques-
tions from it. II the poor man should tell
falsehoods, woe be to his after life. Up to 1888,
the convicts were hired out to settlers on th cir
arrival but their conduct was 50 bad, that now
every man, whether gentleman or otherwise,
is compelled to work six months upon the Co.
vernment works, which is for fifteen hours per
day, carrying stones or timber, telling wood,
pushing heavy barrows, working on new roads,
cleaning the bottom of the docks and harbor,
up to the armpits in the tide. When they push
down their spades, the water covers their face;
in using the pickaxe, they are wet to the head.
They are mostly all fast to large chain to PIE.
vent their drowning; they dive and clear away
tor masonst to build quays, &c Their food, 10b
lbs. Of maize meal per week; I lbs. Of salt beef,
nearly unfit for use, or 4 lbs. of salt pork, s or.
soap; % OF. of salt No wages no tobacco,
nor any other comfort. Clothes-grey cloth
cap, broad arrow stamped on it; grey trousers
short jacket, half yellow, half grey; stockings
grey, white rings; shirts grey canvass no
kerchef or ncckcloth clothes all too small.
Aler six months Of this life, the authorities
think the convlcts sufficiently drilled for assign
mcnt. On a certain day-advcriised in the Co.
vernment Gazet'e-the Settlers farmers, and
master mechanics, come to the barrack for CO.
vernment servants, as they are called these
convicts are all marched out in long line or
row the purchasers walk along the line of
white slaves and pick out such as suit them
the purchaser bids the convict walk, run, hold
up his leg, arm, &c, hits his chest or back to
prove it he is ashmatic or short in his breath
if he is sound in wind and limb, he bids him
stand on one side until he picks from the rest
when he has enough, he goes to an office where
! he pays Government FL for his slops, the yell
low dress Uhey call them canaries) half tanned
Shoes caps three shirts little wool pad, or
ho, .,,I x o,.,h M, .t
vict's outfit. lie then has to walk to the homo
of his new employer, that is, tyrant. There is
= CO, Of ,,,ys ,,,i, G., ,ho oar,.;,, n,,,,,;o,
,lo, ,,oo,, ,,,,,,,;,,. -. r,,l;,x o,,o.,, ,,;
r,,o. ,,o,r;,,r,,,. 90 ,,,, fa, i,,Lo,,r
,ho ,io,,,5o or rC,,.ou,,,,,,, ,,.,,, ,,,.o,.
40, oro c,,,,;o, ,r,.,,,..,,;on j.. oc,,;,,s. ,o,,
,;,,,
,.,, ,,o and b., Lo,.d, l,., ,oa,,or- ,l,o e,.t,
,.o,,r r,,,ho, r,ssoa o. bl,,l
| ,ho, ,,,,, c,.ho. r,oro, ,,,r, ., ,,,o, ooro .
-, ,t...;., n,,.. -, H.,
.., ,.-...
,...l.
,, ,..,., ..,..,l.i,.,..
;.,:,..
-: =.
,;. - ,L,,. .,,-
-, 80,
-.
It.n ..',
~ Wv
liiere the lecturer stripped and turned up his
S'eeVes I" snow 'he manner OF pnnShlhs win
t'e 'aSh ne eNh'oIed fonr sconrgeS the hrSt'
'he sfhail m"tary car me second lhe haVaI
cat the th'rh' the thlei $, or double cal an'.
lastly, the dreadful scourge OF Norfo'k 'sIand'l
J put OF large district oi convcts' amounting 20
"o'oo"' 22ooo had peen convicted ana noegen'
. fA