The Best Australian Sea Stories Page 12

  26th November. We had not lost sight of the Supply and other ships though they were considerably ahead. Between nine and ten at night the wind came to the S.S.E. which made us tack and stand to the S.W. In the morning could see nothing of the flying squadron, as the seamen termed them.

  3rd December. In the evening, and on the succeeding day, the wind to northward and westward; fresh gales, dark, wet, unpleasant weather, with a high sea. The Sirius, for fear of separation, as the weather did not look kindly, made the signal for the convoy to keep nearer the commanding officer.

  20th December. I visited the Prince of Wales, where I found some of the female convicts with evident symptoms of the scurvy, brought on by the damp and cold weather we had lately experienced . . . the scurvy began to show itself in the Charlotte, mostly among those who had the dysentery to a violent degree; but I was pretty well able to keep it under by a liberal use of the essence of malt and some good wine.

  Van Diemen’s Land

  1788, 1st January. The new year was introduced with a pretty heavy gale of wind from the northward and westward, which was the first we had encountered since we left England. It began a little before 12 o’clock the preceding night, and continued till seven this evening.

  The Sirius was the whole day under her stay-sails, and the convoy under their fore-sail and stay-sails.

  7th January. Early in the morning the Lady Penrhyn made the signal for seeing land; but it only proved to be a fog-bank; a circumstance that often deceives the anxious mariner.

  About two o’clock in the afternoon the Prince of Wales, being the headmost ship, made the same signal. The Charlotte being next in succession, the signal was scarcely displayed before we also discovered it very plainly through the haze, and repeated the signal, which was answered by the Sirius.

  As we run in with the land, which is pretty high, we were surprised to see, at this season of the year, some small patches of snow. The haze being dispersed, by a gentle breeze at N.N.W., we could observe, and hear, as we were not more than six or seven miles from the shore, the surf beating high and loudly against some uneven rocks which jutted out, in strange projections, into the sea. This part of the coast, as far as we could see, is bold, irregular, and craggy . . .

  About seven, steering to the eastward, along shore, nearly at the distance of four miles, being well in with the westward-most point of a very large bay, called Storm Bay.

  This part of the country still continued to be a rough, rugged, uneven tract, with very little appearance of fertility. Some small patches of verdure were discovered about Storm Bay, and the trees seemed to increase in number and size.

  Between eight and nine at night we saw a large fire on the east point of land which forms this bay, made by the natives, none of whom could we see during the day, though close in with the shore: nor did we perceive any other indication of its being inhabited but this fire, and the smoke mentioned to be seen on our first falling in with the land.

  The need for ships’ surgeons

  8th January. The wind and weather variable; could perceive nothing of the land. I went on board the Fishburne, to see the boatswain, who, on the first night of the new year, having probably drank more grog than he ought, and the ship labouring much, had fallen from the top-sail yard, by which he bruised himself in a dreadful manner. The man being highly scorbutic, the parts soon mortified, and he died about half an hour after I got on board.

  The master of the ship showed evident marks of great concern for this invaluable man, as he termed him. He declared to me that, sooner than venture again on so long a voyage without a surgeon, he would put to sea with less than half his complement of men; for he was strongly of opinion that if the poor fellow had received immediate assistance he would have recovered. I should have seen him sooner, but was prevented by my own indifferent state of health.

  How owners of ships can think of sending them through such a variety of climates, and a voyage of so great a length, without a surgeon, is to me a matter of surprise.

  The Lady Penrhyn, owned by Alderman Curtis, was the only merchant ship in our fleet that had a surgeon. What the others will do on their return, Heaven only knows; but this I well know, that they would never have reached thus far but for the succour given them by myself and my assistants.

  A storm and some poor marksmanship

  10th January. The wind variable and weather dark and gloomy, with a very troublesome high sea. About two o’clock p.m. we had one of the most sudden gusts of wind I ever remember to have known. In an instant it split our main-sail; and but for the activity shewn by the sailors, in letting fly the sheets and lowering the topsails, the masts must have gone over the side. The Prince of Wales, who was close to us, had her main-yard carried away in the slings.

  Fortunately for us the squall was of short duration, otherwise the ships must have suffered considerably from the uncommon cross-sea that was running; which we had found to be the case ever since we reached this coast.

  11th and 12th January. We saw a whale, several seals, and many large oceanous birds, which we frequently fired at, without their betraying the smallest symptom of fear either at the report, or at the balls, which frequently dropped close to them. A conclusion may be drawn from hence, that they had never been harassed with firearms before; if they had, they would undoubtedly have shown some fear, a sensation they seemed to be totally unacquainted with. In all our firings we did not kill one of them.

  Botany Bay

  19th January. In the evening we saw the land . . . Captain Hunter made the signal for the convoy to come within hail, when he acquainted them that the entrance into Botany Bay bore N.N.W.: adding that for the night he intended to stand off and on, and early in the morning make sail for the bay.

  20th January. At four in the morning the Sirius and convoy made sail, and at eight o’clock anchored in eight fathom water; Cape Banks E.S.E., Point Solander S.S.E., and the entrance of the bay, between these two lands, W.S.W.

  We found here the Supply tender, which had arrived the 18th, and the Alexander, Scarborough and Friendship transports, who had only arrived the day before. To see all the ships safe in their destined port, without ever having, by any accident, been one hour separated, and all the people in as good health as could be expected or hoped for, after so long a voyage, was a sight truly pleasing, and at which every heart must rejoice.

  As we sailed into the bay, some of the natives were on the shore, looking with seeming attention at such large moving bodies coming amongst them. In the evening the boats were permitted to land on the north side, in order to get water and grass for the little stock we had remaining. An officer’s guard was placed there to prevent the seamen from straggling, or having any improper intercourse with the natives.

  Captain Hunter, after anchoring, waited on the governor, on board the Supply, who, with several other officers, landed. As they rowed along the shore, some of the natives followed the boat; but on her putting in for the shore they ran into the woods. Some of the gentlemen, however, before they returned on board, obtained an interview with them, during which they showed some distrust, but, upon the whole, were civilly inclined.

  The boats sent to haul the seine returned, having had tolerable success. The fish they caught were bream, mullet, large rays, besides many other smaller species.

  Doubts about Botany Bay and strange ships

  21st January. The governor, Captain Hunter, and the two masters of the men-of-war, with a party of marines, set off this morning, in two rigged longboats, to examine Port Jackson, a harbour lying a little to the northward, which was discovered by Captain Cook.

  23rd January. The party returned this evening, full of praises on the extent and excellence of the harbour, as well as the superiority of the ground, water and situation to that of Botany Bay, which, I own, does not, in my opinion, by any means merit the commendations bestowed on it by the much lamented Cook, and others whose names and judgments are no less admired and esteemed.

  During his excellency
’s absence the lieutenant-governor had issued his orders to land all the artificers that could be found among the convicts, and a party of others, to clear the ground for the intended town, to dig sawpits, and to perform everything that was essential towards the works purposed to be carried on.

  Although the spot fixed on for the town was the most eligible that could be chosen, yet I think it would never have answered, the ground around it being sandy, poor and swampy, and but very indifferently supplied with water. The fine meadows talked of in Captain Cook’s voyage I could never see, though I took some pains to find them out; nor have I ever heard of a person that has seen any parts resembling them.

  24th January. The boats were employed in getting water and grass for the livestock; as the governor, finding Port Jackson more suited to his wishes, had determined to remove to that place and form the settlement there.

  While these preparations were making, every person in the fleet was surprised to see, in this part of the world, two large ships plying hard in the offing to get into the bay. It was seen, in the evening, that they had French colours flying; but, the wind blowing pretty strong out of the bay, they were unable to get in, and, the weather becoming thick and hazy, we soon lost sight of them.

  25th January. Nothing of the strange ships to be seen. The governor, with a detachment of marines, sailed in the Supply tender for Port Jackson, leaving instructions with Captain Hunter to follow him, with all the transports and victuallers, as soon as the wind and weather would permit.

  26th January. We again descried the French ships standing in for the bay, with a leading wind; upon which Captain Hunter sent his first lieutenant on board the commanding officer’s ship, which was distinguished by a broad pendant, to assist them in coming in.

  Soon after the lieutenants were returned to the Sirius, Captain Clonnard, the French commodore’s captain, waited on Captain Hunter, and informed him that the ships were the Astrolabe and the Boussale, which sailed from France in the year 1786, under the command of Messieurs de la Perouse and de Langle.

  He further acquainted him that, having touched at Navigator’s Isles, they had had the misfortune to lose Captain de Langle, the second in command, with ten other officers and two boats’ crews, all of whom were cut off by the natives of those islands, who appeared to be numerous and warlike.

  This accident induced them to put into this port in order to build some boats, which they had in frames. It also had afforded room for the promotion of Monsieur Clonnard, who, on their leaving France, was only the commodore’s first lieutenant.

  Meeting the locals

  While the people were employed on shore, the natives came several times among them, and behaved with a kind of cautious friendship. One evening while the seine was hauling, some of them were present, and expressed great surprise at what they saw, giving a shout expressive of astonishment and joy when they perceived the quantity that was caught.

  No sooner were the fish out of the water than they began to lay hold of them, as if they had a right to them, or that they were their own; upon which the officer of the boat, I think very properly, restrained them, giving, however, to each of them a part. They did not at first seem very well pleased with this mode of procedure, but on observing with what justice the fish was distributed they appeared content.

  While we remained at Botany Bay, as I was one morning on board the Supply we saw twenty-nine of the natives on the beach, looking towards the shipping; upon which Lieutenants Ball and King, Mr Dawes and myself went on shore, landing at the place where they were. They were friendly and pacific, though each of them was armed with a spear or long dart and had a stick, with a shell at the end, used by them in throwing their weapons. Besides these, some few had shields made of the bark of the cork tree, of a plain appearance but sufficient to ward off or turn their own weapons, some of which were pointed and barbed with the bones of fish, fastened on with some kind of adhesive gum.

  One of the most friendly, and who appeared to be the most confident, on signs being made to him, stuck the end of his shield in the sand, but could not be prevailed upon to throw his spear at it. Finding he declined it, I fired a pistol ball through it.

  The explosion frightened him, as well as his companions, a little; but they soon got over it, and on my putting the pistol into my pocket he took up the shield, and appeared to be much surprised at finding it perforated. He then, by signs and gestures, seemed to ask if the pistol would make a hole through him, and on being made sensible that it would, he showed not the smallest signs of fear; on the contrary he endeavoured, as we construed his motions, to impress us with an idea of the superiority of his own arms, which he applied to his breast, and by staggering, and a show of falling, seemed to wish us to understand that the force and effect of them was mortal, and not to be resisted.

  The finest harbour in the universe

  26th January. At ten o’clock the Sirius, with all the ships, weighed, and in the evening anchored in Port Jackson . . .

  Port Jackson I believe to be, without exception, the finest and most extensive harbour in the universe, and at the same time the most secure, being safe from all the winds that blow. It is divided into a great number of coves, to which his excellency has given different names. That on which the town is to be built, is called Sydney Cove. It is one of the smallest in the harbour, but the most convenient, as ships of the greatest burden can with ease go into it, and heave-out close to the shore.

  In a word, Port Jackson would afford sufficient and safe anchorage for all the navies of Europe.

  The Supply had arrived the day before, and the governor, with every person that could be spared from the ship, were on shore, clearing the ground for the encampment.

  In the evening, when all the ships had anchored, the English colours were displayed; and at the foot of the flag-staff His Majesty’s health, and success to the settlement, was drank by the governor, many of the principal officers, and private men who were present upon the occasion.

  ‘Sydney Cove, 1788’

  Roderic Quinn

  She sat on the rocks, her fireless eyes

  Teased and tired with the thoughts of yore;

  And painting her sense were alien skies,

  An alien sea and an alien shore.

  In gold-green dusks she glimpsed new flowers

  And the glittering wings of gleaming birds—

  But haunting her still were English bowers

  And the clinging sweetness of old love-words.

  A soft breeze murmured of unknown shores

  And laughed as it touched her with fingers light,

  But she mourned the more for the wind that roars

  Down sullen coasts on a northern night.

  Like topaz gems on a sable dome

  The stranger stars stole shyly forth;

  She saw no stars like the stars of home

  That burned, white-fired, in the frosty north.

  A restless sea was at her feet,

  A restless sea of darkest blue;

  The lights burned dimly on The Fleet,

  And these were all the ships it knew.

  She watched the dark tides rise and fall,

  The lion tides that, night and noon,

  Range round the world, and moan and call

  In sad sea-voices to the moon.

  Thus while she watched they ebbed and flowed;

  Till last with sudden splendour Day

  Lit all the scene with gold, and showed

  An arrow black on garb of grey.

  I never was on the dull, tame shore,

  But I loved the great sea more and more.

  Barry Cornwall

  The boy who read Robinson Crusoe

  JIM HAYNES

  TOWARDS THE END OF Matthew Flinders’ life, the editor of the Naval Chronicle was preparing a feature article on the famous commander, explorer and navigator. When he enquired about any ‘juvenile anecdotes’, which might be of interest in the biographical sketch, Flinders replied that he was �
�induced to go to sea against the wishes of friends from reading Robinson Crusoe’.

  In the late eighteenth century, most literate European boys read Alexandre Dumas’ novel with the rather cumbersome title: The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner: Who lived Eight and Twenty Years, all alone in an un-inhabited Island on the Coast of America, near the Mouth of the Great River of Oroonoque; Having been cast on Shore by Shipwreck, wherein all the Men perished but himself.

  The book was hugely successful and was Europe’s first adventure ‘novel’, a story devoid of the usual mythology and legends and using contemporary ideas and characters. The hero goes to sea against his parents’ wishes, becomes a plantation owner and slave-trader, is shipwrecked and survives by his own ingenuity, rescues the intended victims of cannibals, defeats a gang of pirates, returns to civilisation and finds he is wealthy after all.

  Flinders himself was not from York, but the adjoining county of Lincolnshire. As a result of defying his friends and family and ‘running away to sea’, he would himself survive shipwreck, undertake a perilous journey in an open boat to save the survivors, spend seven years trapped on an island against his will, give a name to a nation and become as famous for his adventures as his fictional hero . . . at least in the eyes of many Australians.

  When Flinders was four years old, the other great hero of his youth was murdered in Hawaii. James Cook, a Yorkshireman like the fictional Robinson Crusoe, was to have an uncanny posthumous influence on the life of Matthew Flinders, through his connections with William Bligh and Joseph Banks.

  Flinders should have been a country doctor, a physician like his father, grandfather and great-grandfather, in and around the village of Donington, where he was born in 1774.