Bound for South Australia 1836LivestockWeek 4

Two SheepChromolithograph after a painting by Frederick Taylor, published in 1884.

OverviewBetween February and July 1836 nine ships left Britain bound for the newly created province of South Australia. On-board the ships were passengers who over many long months braved the perils of the ocean, including some of the most treacherous seas in the world to begin a new life on the other side of the world.

This resource uses the stories from these nine ships as recorded by the passengers and crew in their personal journals.

Contents

• Introduction• Journal entries• Inquiry Questions• Relevant images • Glossary of terms

IntroductionA third ship, the Cygnet is preparing to set sail, bound for South Australia. This vessel along with the Duke of York and the John Pirie all remain in the English Channel. This week we will look at the livestock that was on board the vessels and inquire into the purpose these animals had for the journey and the establishment of the new colony.

Journal entriesTuesday 15 March 1836

John Pirie journal writer, on board the John Pirie wrote:

There was a deluge of Rain, all last Night, accompd withuncommon heavy Squalls… The Weatherhas now become quite moderate, but two of our Sheep, havecaught very bad Cold’s, and are removed to the Hospital ,(a place we have partitioned off, from the others) wherethey can be better attended too, and made more comfortable,than being amongst those, that are healthy _______We have

also taken the Troughs, from the inside of the Pen’s, andhung them outside, which does not only make a greatdeal more room within, but will likewise prevent theSheep, from cutting their Legs, which they did do, mostdreadfully, against the edges of them things, when the Vesselroll’d about at Sea, besides making it far more handyto clean them Out and feed _________ During this Afternoon

two small Pigs, belonging to the Capt, have been in seve-ral Fits, which I have no doubt is caused by the wetand Cold they have caught, in their confined Births, indeedit is impossible to keep any of the Pigs dry, in heavyRains, besides their being cramped to Death, for thewant of room _____ but with all these difficulties, I am gladto see, that the large Sow, is recovering again

Journal entriesSaturday 19 March 1836

John Pirie journal writer, on board the John Pirie wrote:

There being a fine Breeze, from the S,E, this Morng wegot under weigh, at Daylight, and proceeded to Sea,in company with several other, outward bound Vessels,______ The two little Pigs, being left upon Deck, lastNight ____ one of them was missing this Morng it hadmost probably stagger’d overboard, and the otherpoor thing, not seeming at all likely to recover,was kill’d, in the Afternoon

Inquiry Questions• What types of livestock and produce were brought to South Australia

onboard these ships?

• Why were animals taken onboard?

• How were the animals looked after during the voyage?

Images

"Short-Horned Bull, Phoenix" and "Short-Horned Cow, Charity" engraved by W.Forrest after pictures by J.Stewart. Published by A & C Black, 1853

"The Romney Marsh Sheep" and "Neapolitan Breed Boar and Sow" anonymous artist/engraver. Published by A & C Black, 1853

Branta Rufina" chromolithograph published in Hume & Marshall's The Game Birds of India, Burmah and Ceylon, about 1890

"1.Assyrian Goat 2.Angora Goat" engraved by T.Dixon, published in Oliver Goldsmith's History of the Earth and Animated Nature', 1822

[ Bay Roan Horse ] chromolithograph after a painting by Frederick Taylor, published in 1884.

Spur-winged Goose" wood engraving by Benjamin Fawcett based on a drawing by Richard Alington, with original hand colouring. Published in Morris's History of

British Birds, about 1855

"Turkey & Fowls" engraved by Huber after a picture by Hondekoeter, published in Payne's Book of Art .. Galleries of Munich, 1849

Glossary of Terms

Hospital• Livestock on board were normally kept in pens on deck. Any needing to recover from exposure

during severe weather might have been transferred to the between-decks. While loosely described as a ‘hospital’, it was in no sense a formal one.

Squalls• A squall is a sudden, sharp increase in wind speed.Under weigh• When a ship is under weigh it is in motion. The anchor has been raised or weighed.

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