Convict Girl

by Chrissie Michaels

  Afterwards, the Commander reproached me over my forthright tongue. ‘You must try to remain bien comportée. Be of good character. Ignore their taunts.’ However, he did confess that from time to time he suffers from the same frankness of speech. ‘You and I are somewhat alike, Mary,’ he told me, ‘To be firm, to have fire, are both our strengths and our weaknesses. Not everyone admires such qualities.’

  Alors! Easier said than done while those scientists and officers are being so spiteful. Excepting Antoine. And Citizen Petit who does make me laugh, although his words can be mocking. And Citizen Bernier too, who keeps me entertained with his stories of the stars.

  7 December 1802

  16 Frimaire XI

  More stowaways have been found, hidden on Géographe and on Naturaliste. Them poor absconders must have begun to feel hopeful after sailing undiscovered for so long. Now their hopes have been dashed, just like Bridget and Joe’s were.

  The Citizens’ hostile glances let me know what they were thinking. Look at Mary Beckwith walking freely. Whilst the convicts we brought on board must be returned to captivity. Whilst the Commander considers throwing us in irons for concealing them. Where is the égalité in such treatment? No wonder the Citizens dislike me. They know I am only here because their Commander has desired it.

  When I asked what would happen to the stowaways, Commander Baudin said, ‘I intend to leave them here with the sealers, which is what Governor King would expect.’ He warned me to stay away from them. ‘No contact, do you hear? Seeing you will torture the poor men, by giving them hope where there is none to be found.’

  8 December 1802

  17 Frimaire XI

  Casuarina has sailed off to do some close-to-shore surveys of a group of islands closer to Van Diemen’s Land. Being so lean a schooner, she can travel much nearer to the coast. Our Géographe has remained at King Island.

  Naturaliste is about to sail for France. This afternoon the Commander went to make a final inspection and to bid Captain Hamelin a safe journey. He took a large wombat, which a captain from a whaling ship had presented to him to add to the collection. Antoine also went with Commander Baudin, to check on the condition of the Naturaliste’s plants.

  In their absence I took the opportunity to roam the deck. The day was fine and more animal crates were being brought up to take advantage of the sunshine. At first I amused myself by stretching my lips into different animal shapes, but some of the kangaroos did not look at all well. Antoine left me some leaves to feed them but they turned up their noses and would not eat. I begged some Indian corn from one of the cooks, who at first refused.

  ‘Oh, but Commander Baudin gave the order,’ I said, lacing my fingers behind my back. ‘He will be very gruff if you do not give me some.’ The ruse worked. Soon the sick kangaroos were gobbling the Indian corn from my open hand.

  Afterwards, I went below to fetch my cockatoo, Hetty. I placed her cage on the deck and we both stared at the seaweed that lay like thick leather along the shoreline. Morning rambled slowly into afternoon. Eventually a watering party returned with their casks unfilled, bringing news that the sealers had told them there was plentiful water a mile or so away. They were happy to know about the source of water, but decided to abandon their collecting until the morrow. I had a feeling the Commander would not be pleased to hear that we were all so restful while there was so much work to be done.

  Right enough! When the Commander returned from visiting Captain Hamelin, he was furious over the empty water casks. He accused the watering party of idling away their time. ‘Do you not understand the survival of our cargo is of prime importance?’ he yelled, ‘We must always sprinkle the plants and ensure the animals have ample to drink.’

  Antoine pulled me aside. ‘He cares more for the animals than he does for us.’

  ‘But he always speaks well of you,’ I replied, having heard this with my own ears. ‘He says you are one of the few industrious workers on board.’

  Antoine looked abashed. ‘I am only repeating what others say.’

  ‘And here I am thinking you have a tongue of your own,’ I said, teasingly.

  We heard bleating, cackling and grunts. Deux sheep, douze hens and a pig were brought up from below. The Commander had ordered them to be sent across to the Naturaliste as fresh food, in particular for one of the citizen scientists who was in poor health. ‘Which just goes to prove my point,’ I told Antoine. ‘See how you misjudge him.’

  Before the Commander retired for the evening, I ventured to ask, ‘Did you make a good farewell with Captain Hamelin and your men on the Naturaliste, sir?’

  ‘Captain Hamelin, yes, as always. But only one other officer attended our farewell dinner, and most reluctantly, I must say. In the end I preferred not having to say goodbye to the others. My happiness lies in the fact that their live specimens are all healthy, watered and fed.’ He seemed to remember something and added, ‘Although their last remaining kangaroo has died from an abscess on the thigh, which means we shall have to search out more.’

  I was going to say to him: It ain’t no surprise to me as to why you prefer your creatures, with so many unfriendly people surrounding you. But I thought better and kept silent.

  We watched the Naturaliste weigh anchor. All eyes followed her until she finally disappeared over the horizon. On every face around me there was a look of sadness. These men are all so far from home, and have been away for over two years. They must feel keenly the need to see their own people and land again.

  I thought with a stab of regret: Ain’t that true for us all?

  9 December 1802

  18 Frimaire XI

  This morning the stowaways were landed on King Island and put in the care of the sealers, until such time as they can be returned to the colony. The Commander gave them a sack of bread and some clothing.

  Shortly afterwards I was on deck when a gang of angry sealers arrived by rowboat. They were rough and ready cut throats, all of them, and very unhappy with the Commander’s intention to force the stowaways onto their camp. They demanded extra knives for their own protection.

  The Commander refused. He would not bow to their pestering by granting them weapons that they might well put to ill use. They grew insistent. We were all feeling uneasy. But there was no swaying the Commander. To the amazement of his own officers, he pushed me forward. ‘Tell these hunters in your plain tongue that although they provoke me to dishonour your Governor’s regulations, I never shall. My hand will not be forced.’

  The sealers had no desire to hear my mumblings. They went away cursing, without those knives, and left behind much ill feeling.

  I remained on the quarterdeck. Most unexpectedly, after only one hour had passed, the schooner Cumberland dropped anchor nearby. After spying the sail the Commander lowered his seaman’s glass. ‘Quelle surprise! What is this? So soon a ship appearing from Port Jackson? If only they had arrived a little earlier we could have transferred the stowaways directly.’

  I followed the Commander to the Great Cabin where he sat down to write in his ship’s log. I began to tidy the charts and books. Soon after, the cabin door swung open and two men were ushered in. The Commander rose from his chair to greet them, Officer Robbins and Surveyor Grimes, known to him from the colony. They had hurried across from the Cumberland. Robbins immediately handed over a letter from Governor King. There could be no denying the Cumberland had been intent on catching us up.

  I wondered if that letter had something to do with me, that somehow Mumma had influenced the Judge to have me sent back, or that Governor King regretted his hasty decision. Intent on learning more, I backed behind a high pile of charts and great sea volumes, trying my best not to bring attention to myself.

  Slowly and thoughtfully the Commander read the letter. Eventually he folded the paper and placed it in a box. He invited Officer Robbins and Surveyor Grimes to dine with him. They accepted. Very polite, all of them, but you could cut the air with a blade.

  During their meal the Comm
ander clapped his hands for me to move around the table, placing and removing some of the plates. Surveyor Grimes nibbled his boiled ham in silence, but Officer Robbins said as bold as could be, ‘We lack many things, Monsieur Baudin and wonder if you could supply us.’

  ‘If it is in my power,’ the Commander replied warily. ‘What do you require?’

  ‘Many things. A long measure of canvas to replace our worn sail, thread and needles, padlocks, nails, twelve pounds of gunpowder—’

  The Commander sucked his teeth in disbelief. ‘You left with such great suddenness?’ He reached for his linen and dabbed at his mouth. ‘Ah well! Of course, I shall do all I can to assist.’

  Alors! You are too helpful, sir, I thought to myself, considering these men left in such a hurry to catch us up they neglected to fit out their ship properly. But why would they do that?

  The Commander turned the talk to the recent stowaways. Officer Robbins hastily assured him they would be returned on the Cumberland and duly punished. He added, ‘You will be gratified to know the others you sent back have already faced judgement.’

  I was filling the Officer’s glass and dropped a big slop on his cuff. He stared at me. I stepped back. What had happened to poor Bridget and Joe?

  The Commander waved me away. ‘With not too much severity, I hope,’ he replied.

  ‘The girl was sent off in an iron collar to fetch and carry at Toongabbie. The men were flogged and put on a chain gang at Coal River. Rebels. Defiant to the last cut.’

  The bowl I was holding crashed from my hands. The clatter caused the guests to again look my way. I curtsey bobbed and muttered a hurried apology, brushing up the broken pottery within the folds of my apron and backing into a dark corner. My fingers would not stop trembling. Overcome, I was, with the suffering that poor Joe must have endured from another lashing before his last was even healed. And poor Bridget, collared and sent to the Government Farm.

  As soon as the Cumberland gents left, I risked asking, ‘The letter from the Governor, sir, was it bad news? Sir, do you think Officer Robbins wondered about me being here?’

  The Commander gave a hollow laugh. ‘Rest assured, no further enquiry is to be made about you. Governor King was clear on that point. But do not dare inquire about the letter’s contents. Suffice to say they are preposterous! I am bitterly disappointed at being considered untrustworthy by your Governor, who I believed was my trusted friend.’

  I wondered why Governor King had become so mistrusting, or why a parting on such good terms had turned so false and insincere.

  10 December 1802

  19 Frimaire XI

  We are still at this wild and lonely King Island. The scientists, led by Citizen Péron, have set up a temporary camp on Sea Elephant Rock. They took along so much Knowledge in the dinghy it is a wonder they did not sink under the weight. You would think the papers, books and instruments for which they are so full of affection would have left little room for anything else, but Citizen Péron insisted on adding more clutter. Utensils. Pots. Jugs. Pans. He even added the Cooks! Not everyone could fit. The dinghy ended up coming to and fro.

  Antoine had to wait his turn to go. I did not mind keeping him company for I was becoming fond of him. But he was restless. ‘Blame your friend, Citizen Péron who wants all the comforts of home.’ I teased. ‘The Commander says he suffers from an ailment called “Pomp and Magnificence”.’

  Antoine did not think this witty at all. He was swift to defend his friend. ‘Péron is endowed with talent. The Commander should respect his abilities and excuse his fondness of luxury.’

  I felt myself growing bolder and chided, ‘Well, I for one am glad to be rid of Master Know-it-all! If only for a short while.’

  ‘Let us hope you are not so overjoyed to be rid of me!’

  I felt myself blush. His eyes were laughing, I swear.

  After Antoine left for Sea Elephant Rock, I found some shade on deck, and nestled amongst a cluster of cooling ferns and Port Jackson grass trees that had been brought up into the sunshine. The deck had been transformed into an enchanted garden. Dreamily I lay thinking of Antoine, until the crash bang return of the watering party hauling sixteen barrels of fresh water on board ruined my imaginings.

  11 December 1802

  20 Frimaire XI

  Today the Commander supplied Officer Robbins with all his requests. I think this was most honourable, and I hope that on his return the Officer lets Governor King know what a generous person Commander Baudin is. Although they do not seem to be leaving, because the Cumberland has since moved in closer to shore.

  14 December 1802

  23 Frimaire XI

  Today a volley of gunshot came from Sea Elephant Rock. Fearing trouble in the scientists’ camp the Commander rushed out of the Great Cabin and set his officers and men running in all directions. Filled with terror for Antoine’s safety, I watched them depart for shore. Inaudible shouts followed. After which, a chorus of three cheers reached my ears.

  This is what happened, the strangest thing …

  Officer Robbins was supposedly going to dine with the scientists in their tent, but on arrival he marched up the beach with three Marines and hoisted a flag on the closest tree. The Marines stood beneath and fired a volley of gunshot, which was what I heard. They must have used the Commander’s own gunpowder: the supply he gave to them so generously! After reading out the Act of Possession, they gave three cheers, which is also what I heard, thereby claiming the whole of King Island as land for our King George.

  ‘Ridiculous!’ the Commander shouted at me on his return. ‘Your monarch’s prior claim to King Island is obvious. His sealers have a settlement here!’ His eyes were etched with angry disappointment. ‘I fail to understand why Governor King adds insult to injury. Is he so afraid I wish to seize Van Diemen’s Land for France? It is you English who wish to seize the whole world!’

  I tried to stop my own hand from shaking as I topped up the inkwell, while Commander Baudin penned not one furious letter to Governor King, but two. I heard the incensed scratchiness of his quill across the paper, him muttering the words out loud as he wrote: ‘We are no threat … such a childish incident …’

  15 December 1802

  24 Frimaire XI

  Five days have already passed since I last spoke with Antoine. Because of heavy seas, we have had to leave our moorings and head for the safety of deeper waters. We could not safely pick up our scientists. So Antoine remains with the others at their camp on Sea Elephant Rock.

  It has been a dreadful day. In the early hours of the morn, heavy rain and strong gusts buffeted the ship, shaking me from a sound sleep. The bell rang, summoning everyone to deck. Vite! Hurry! Whether it was for fear of the rain, which was heavy, or whether it was because they did not know of the danger we were in, most of the crew were slow in coming on deck.

  A fast-running current kept dragging us towards the shallows. Once the sailors realised the grave danger we were in they rushed to set the sails. Their desperate actions and a slight change in the wind put us out of danger. But to the Commander’s great distress, the longboat we were towing broke away and was lost.

  19 December 1802

  28 Frimaire XI

  Oh Antoine, we have left you so far behind! Today we sailed through the heavy, swelling waters, away from King Island. The strong squalls have thrown us further and further to the east. The horizon has been on fire with lightning, although I ain’t heard a single clap of thunder. Every so often hail has thrashed the ship.

  Always my thoughts have been with Antoine on Sea Elephant Rock. Alors! Has his camp been washed away? Does he lie injured? Has the sea claimed him? I pray let him, let them all be spared. Even Citizen Péron! I can only hope that once the weather turns fair we might return speedily to King Island.

  The Commander is certain we are close to a point he knows to be Wilson’s Promontory. In a clear moment our lookout at the masthead was able to confirm this. Soon after, a sail came in view. Believing it to be Cas
uarina we changed course and headed for her, only to see she was the Cumberland sailing back to Port Jackson. I wonder what Governor King will make of the letters she carries back from Commander Baudin.

  20 December 1802

  29 Frimaire XI

  Rain and hail keep pursuing our ship. Blasts of wind drive us on without mercy. I fear for the sailors having to dangle high from the ship’s masts, wet through to the skin. Foaming waves keep washing over the deck. I ain’t in the mind to be swept off my feet one more time, so I am staying put in the cabin.

  So far the Commander has guided the ship skilfully through the storms. He is hopeful we can turn back soon for King Island.

  Twenty days parted from Antoine. So many marked crosses!

  23 December 1802

  2 Nivôse XI

  Huzzah! The strong gusts and violent squalls have blown over. Today we sighted King Island. For all that, it is a worrisome time. The dinghy went to pick up the scientists, but so heavy was the sea and so big the surf the party could not make it to shore. I keep praying that Antoine is safe. Ain’t no sign of the Casuarina either.

  24 December 1802

  3 Nivôse XI

  At daybreak, the Commander again sent the dinghy to pick up the scientists. I remained watchful on deck and could not contain my joy when Antoine returned surprisingly untroubled and tipped his cap at me.

  ‘Our tents were upturned and shredded by the wind,’ he began, ‘we were exposed to terrible gales and downpours of rain.’

  Suddenly, I realised that Citizen Péron had not returned with him. Antoine hurriedly reassured me under his breath that nothing was amiss. ‘He merely missed the boat. Time is of no consequence to him in his search for science.’