III. AT SEA--INCIDENTS OF THE VOYAGE.
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III.
AT SEA--INCIDENTS OF THE VOYAGE.
First impressions--Length of voyage--A sister's gift--Trial by Judge and Jury--Scene in the Court.
ON 20th November 1847 I went on board the vessel that was to be my home for five long weary months. The first sight of my compagnons de voyage was not reassuring. I saw persons there whom I did not expect to see, but first impressions are not very trustworthy; five months' constant contact with fellow-passengers
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gives an insight into character not obtainable by any other means. This knowledge gradually modified first impressions. Some fell by the process, others rose, and some have lived only to strengthen and confirm them: The emigrants seemed to have come from the east and the west, the north and south, but the west was perhaps the greatest and worst contributor. Friendships were formed then which in many cases have been retained in all their freshness for a quarter of a century. The emigrants numbered about 260, and were crammed into a vessel of 400 tons, a striking contrast to the magnificent ships that now, in eighty days, connect New Zealand with Britain. The first bona fide emigrants to America were huddled up in the "Mayflower," and we were equally uncomfortable, so far as the size of the vessel and the length of the voyage were concerned. It has long since been changed times with the emigrant to New Zealand. The finest steamers from the eastern and western hemispheres now carry the mails and passengers from Britain and America to Dunedin in forty-five days; but in the early days of the colony, four and five months was the proper time. Wearisome as eighty days' sailing to New Zealand may appear in comparison with ten or twenty to America, yet I question if the advantages to the emigrant are not greater in the one case than in the other. The long passage teaches the emigrant patience and economy in stowing himself and family afterwards in a small house. Habits of discipline are formed, and the art of making the most of everything, so that when he lands in his adopted country he is not easily put out with every little annoyance, but, on the contrary, his long passage has only fitted and nerved him for difficulties yet to come. Voyages at sea are seldom remarkable if all goes well. We had a good captain; and we no sooner left port than a violent storm in the Irish Sea compelled him to put into Wales. While there, several of the crew were imprisoned; this delay was favourable to the emigrants of the next ship, as we complained of the dietary scale, which was improved in succeeding vessels. Here I received a registered letter from London from my youngest sister, enclosing a present of money as a parting gift. Four days in Wales gave us a fresh
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crew, and we sailed away from Milford Haven with a fair wind. Three marriages took place on the voyage, and a good deal of sweet-hearting went on. The most remarkable event that took place on board was connected with a young lad amongst the single men; he was made the butt of one man in particular, who never ceased to domineer over the boy; but the fellow played his joke once too often, for we were all horrified to hear that the boy suddenly sprang upon him, and stabbed him in the abdomen: the boy was instantly imprisoned, but it was found that the table-knife had doubled up, the broad point refused to penetrate the moleskin, and most fortunately the man's life was saved by the merest accident. A trial at once took place, Rev. Thos. Burns judge, and a jury of twelve passengers. The sentence proposed by the jury was a severe reprimand, two days' incarceration, and the head to be shaved. Before the sentence was pronounced, a vigorous defence was made by one of the jurymen, and a strong case made out for the defendant by showing that the lad had for weeks tried by various means to escape from his tormentor, and failed; that the rash act was the resistless impulse of a moment which he now bitterly regretted. The judge summed up, pointing out to the prisoner the enormity of his crime, and the providential manner in which it had been frustrated, condemned him to two days' imprisonment, his hair to be cut quite off (not shaved), and his father to be the executioner; the latter part of the sentence was the only request made by the parents. As soon as the prosecutor heard the sentence, he very impudently told the Court that he did not think it severe enough. Never shall I forget what followed. Dr. Burns throughout the trial had exhibited a quiet, calm, dignified manner; but no sooner had the bold swaggerer uttered the last word than the judge fixed upon the speaker a piercing look, and addressed him in a voice trembling with emotion, and for several minutes he poured out such a storm of withering rebuke as made the fellow quail. He charged him in the most scathing language as the real author of the crime that had taken place, reproached him with ingratitude to God and man, and hinted pretty plainly that he, Mr. Burns, possessed magisterial powers until we arrived in New
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Zealand, and that, if the complainant did not conduct himself better in future, he would find that power was one which he could not resist. I have known Dr. Burns as preacher for five-and-twenty years. I have heard splendid bursts of eloquence during that time, but never did I see rage in such a grand and dignified attitude, --the grey locks, the eagle eye, the Roman profile, the right hand stretched forward, the clear voice, the trembling frame, the impassioned eloquence, and the profound silence of the onlookers, made up a picture which it is impossible to reproduce on canvass or paper. The boy afterwards became a respectable settler, but I never knew what became of his tormentor. He left the place, and doubtless his narrow escape would ever after teach him respect for the feelings of others.
