“Why no, sir, I’ll not take my family there. I hear that they are pretty rough places. No sir, I am a farmer and I want to make my fortune, if God wills, on the land.”
“What part of Scotland do you come from?”
“From Skye, in the Western Isles.”
“I believe things are not good for the Highlanders at the moment.”
“They are not, sir. In many places conditions are severe. We’ve not been so very badly off, but some of the folk are literally starving.”
“Why so, man?”
“Well sir, our potato crops have been bad for some time, and then the closures have been very hard to bear.”
“What are the closures?”
“Well, when the potatoes failed and the seasons bad, year upon year, the Lairds were hit badly too and many of the Lairds found that the only thing to do was to sell some land and save their people. Many rich southerners bought up land, finding that our land is good for sheep. They could only keep the sheep if they enclosed the pastures. The crofters or farmers had always farmed their land in the traditional manner, small holdings and sharing grazing for their cows. Since the southern landlords have come they find the crofters, like us, a nuisance and try, and do, get rid of them so that they can run their sheep. Many folk have had their houses ruthlessly torn down and been turned out onto the roads to wander. Some lairds have done a great deal to help their folk but some have let their people down in a bad way.”
“The Laird being your clan chief, I take it?”
“Yes. On Skye the Laird of the Macdonald ‘The Macdonald’ we term him - sold his castle to feed his people. Our Laird, The Macdonald, booked and paid our passages rather than see us starve.”
“A grand gesture.”
“Some of the lairds formed a society called the Highland and Island Society to assist people to emigrate. They arrange the passage and assist us with the payment. There are rules we must keep but this is not so hard as we do not wish to go to the diggings.
“Where are you going?”
“Sydney, sir, and we hope to keep together if possible. You see, we are rather a large party. Four families. My wife and five children, my sister, my brother-in-law and my cousin’s families.”
“Are you all farmers then?”
“Yes, we have been, but Fergus MacKenzie, my wife Mary’s brother, has been ill with chest trouble and the Laird has had him working with his agent on book work and he did very well according to ‘The Macdonald’. So Fergus may seek a position in commerce, if he’s well enough. My sister’s husband, Alistair MacLeod, is keen to farm and also my cousin Margaret’s husband, Alec Fraser - but I fancy Alec is rather tempted with gold. We have eighteen children between us from wee bairn to near men, and so are rather a large group.”
“I will help you if I can, Macdonald. I’m no farmer but have farming friends. You should have no trouble getting places as so many are going out to the diggings and leaving their jobs. I am a merchant and have lived in the colony most of my life and so will be glad to advise you if I can.”
“I would be sincerely grateful if we could discuss the colony, sir. We are pitifully ignorant of what is before us. I will ask, too, that you may speak to the other men for we are all full of questions that need answers.”
“I have two friends aboard, too, they are farmers. You may care to speak to them also. William Forrest and Charles Parry, both have properties on the Hawkesbury River west of Sydney and should be helpful to you. I will speak to them.”
“’Thank you, sir, we’d be most grateful.”
“We must arrange further talks, then.” Then, extending his hand, Mr. Trent took Murdoch’s in his firm grasp and said, “Again I thank you,” then ran up the steps to the upper deck.
Chapter 7 - Heat and Cabin Fever
As the days passed the weather turned hot and sultry and shade was a scarce commodity. There was little to do but sit where you could watch the flying fish sail past the ship as it cut through the waves. Occasionally someone would shout, “Whale” or “Porpoises” and occasionally even “Shark” and those interested would crowd to the rails peering out at them. Anything to break the monotony of the endless hot, blue days. Those who could wrote letters home, but there was little chance they could be sent. It was the time when tempers flared and it was prudent for the groups to remain aloof. Keeping the children occupied was a large task. The older ones quickly got into mischief as was too hot for energetic games. Fergus still organised drill but found that early in the morning was the best time for this, but this left the rest of the day with nothing for them to do.
Twice there came the call of “Ship ahoy” and one of these vessels pulled alongside to take on mail for England and some back to the colony. This took much manoeuvering by both ships, with ropes being thrown by each and the two ships being drawn together with the mail passed between the two. Much news was passed by yelling and information of what was ahead was asked.
On the thirty seventh day out from Liverpool rang “Land ahead” and there was a rush to the deck rails. The coast of Brazil was seen in the distance. It was a tantalizing thing to see the distant land and know there would be no landing. As the sea had remained calm throughout, they were content to know that their voyage was progressing and that their goal was not this land.
Even the cabin passengers found the heat a trial and many of the ladles and gentlemen were seen seeking shade and respite from the sun. One lady had a favourite place where she would sit and watch the people below her. She would always have a pleasant smile for anyone who looked up in her direction.
John Trent moved up beside her. “In your favourite place again, my dear?”
She smiled up at him. “Yes, John, I do find all the people fascinating. So many people. I think so much about them. I wonder where they came from and what they want to find in the colony and whether they will find it.?”
“Well Emma, you’ve seen something of the successes and failures of the colonists.”
“I know John. I’ve not seen them quite like this. Some must come from the slums in cities and seem to take the crowded conditions well. They just carry on as ever. These seem to me to be the ones who will find the country life of the colony so hard and will certainly want to stay in Sydney Town or go to the goldfields. Then there are those who do not seem to be able to handle the mass of people and yet I feel that these are the true pioneers who won’t mind the isolation of the Australian bush.”
“It will be interesting to see how some of them fare.” mused John.
“I fancy John, that that is your Scottish group.” Emma indicated very carefully the large Macdonald group. “Since Mr Macdonald saved Hugh from going overboard I have watched them carefully. Could I meet them, please? The women seem to be very pleasant.”
John carefully studied the group under Mrs. Trent’s scrutiny. “You could be correct my dear, although I do not see Macdonald.”
“One of the men has just gone below so perhaps he will return.”
Murdoch appeared as she spoke carrying a cloth. He and Alistair tied each corner of the cloth to the ropes to make more shade. The women gratefully moved under it with the smallest children. Their fair skin did not fare well in the burning sun. It was another discomfort in the dreadful conditions.
“Macdonald, would you please come up,” John Trent called down to the deck below.
Murdoch looked up, nodded and came up the steps and was introduced to Mrs. Trent who beamed upon him and gave him her thanks for rescuing her son.
“I take it that is your family, Macdonald. Would you take us below to meet them please” asked John.
“It would be an honour, Mr. Trent”
Mrs. Trent led the way and Murdoch introduced his new friends to the family. Malcolm and the older boys were asked to take the children aside and care for them while the adults spoke.
Very quickly the men surrounded John Trent and plied him with questions, about not only the diggings but also farming and all manner of things
like living conditions in the colony. Emma sat under the shade with the four Scottish lassies who were shy at first, but she quickly drew them out and soon they too asked about the life ahead of them. This new country was to be so different. She told them about what to expect with cottages, what to wear, what living near convicts was like. She told them about the heat and the winters with no snow! Fancy a winter that had no snow and things that grew all year round, and trees that kept their leaves that had a clean strange smell that would take time to get used to. On hot Summer days these same trees could just explode into flame and burn everything in sight. She also told them of the cool breezes, flooding rains, the freedom of space, the amazing stars that were so different to the ones in Scotland. There was something about this new country they were going to that would just get deep within and a passion to work this land and see your children grow strong in the sunshine. Emma Trent gave them hope! A hope that they previously did not have.
Chapter 8 - Sickness and a storm
As the weeks went by the weather grew cold. The sea remained kind and there was much time to learn from the Trent’s a great deal of the type of life led in the colony. John Trent introduced the Scottish group to his friend William Forrest, a farmer who lived west of Sydney near the Blue Mountains, and also Charles Parry from the same area. Both these men were farmers and they proved a great source of information to the men from Skye. Farming in the colony seemed to bear no resemblance at all to the farming that the four men had left behind in Skye, where winter conditions were hard and hot and the life ahead seemed to be one long summer. They were most anxious to know if anyone would employ them as the conditions seemed so different, but both Forrest and Parry assured them that they would soon get into the way of things. They’d had word since their arrival in England that many farms were bereft of labour as many farm hands had left secure jobs to seek their fortunes at the diggings. They were sorry not to be able to offer any positions to the Scots as they hoped that their farms were still fully manned. They did spend quite a deal of time speaking to Murdoch, Alistair and Alec and the men found a wealth of knowledge coming their way.
In the meantime John Trent and Fergus MacKenzie had found a great deal in common. Although Fergus was completely ignorant of city life, he was very taken with the thought of entering commercial life. He had very little capital indeed and so thought of buying into business was never dreamt of, but he did hope to enter a shop as an assistant and start from there. He was pleased his health was now much better.
John Trent said nothing about assisting him, but watched and listened carefully and wondered whether he should offer Fergus a start. He was unhurried about it all and was pleased to note that Fergus showed no signs of expecting assistance in any way. In fact, all three Australians found the Scottish folk very independent and asked no quarter. They had been brought up in a hard climate, a hard country and hard work was the only thing that brought results in their view. Alec Fraser was the only one who showed any interest in the diggings, but he was shy about putting his tentative questions. Murdoch and Alistair were quick to change the subject if it was touched on. Alistair particularly was abrupt and had small tolerance of any ‘silly notions’, as he called them.
As the cold increased, life out of doors lessened and most hours were now spent below decks. Even when the sea roughened, few people suffered any ill effects for the passengers had their “sea leg”. That is, until one night the ship started tossing, the wind began to scream through the rigging and once more hatches were battened and the air below became fetid and hot. The ship was at this time in the cold and infamous Roaring Forties, where ships took this route for extra speed. The trouble was, that when one got into a freezing storm in these latitudes, one stayed with it a long while. Late in August there was snow on the deck. From below you could hear the sailors slip on the frozen deck. It was a terrible time for all concerned. Food was short for those brave enough and able enough to want it. Many were sick and unable to control themselves, so the stench itself brought on sickness, and once again, cooking pots were used for bodily functions.
As ever, it was John who gave most concern to Mary and Murdoch. He had never recovered fully from his previous illness and he had found the tropic heat enervating. Mary had been thanking God for improvement in his health and appetite when they ran into the storm.
The storm raged incessantly, day and night, day and night. People moaned and vomited, children cried, whimpered and vomited. Life below decks was appalling.
All things come to an end, even storms, and after two full weeks they sailed out of it, or the storm left them. They didn’t care which, all they knew was that the world regained some normality. They found that during this ‘limbo’ time, when everyone just lived for themselves, that several people had died and four babies born. One of these had died as it was premature.
It was heaven to feel the fresh air again as hatches were removed and mopping up began. What a mess! What a shambles! Even those who were well had not been able to move much as they were thrown off their feet continually. Several old people had broken limbs, in fact, it was amazing that anyone escaped injury.
When the stoves were lit on deck and tea was served, everyone agreed that there had never been a better drink. ‘Ambrosia’ some said, ‘nectar’ from others. “Hot, clean tea, a great drink.”
Johnnie was a sad little fellow. He’d lost a great deal of weight and again his eyes seemed enormous. All he wanted to do was lie in Mary’s arms and suck his fingers. It was an effort to make him eat anything at all. The other children soon made up for all the meals they had missed.
Even though the storm had passed, it was far too cold to resume life on deck and so they had to carry on in the dark room with all the other hundreds of souls, intent on seeing to their own needs first.
Life improved as time went on, there was a slight feeling of warmth and then one day the sun shone and there was a movement to go on deck.
Mary wrapped Johnnie in warm clothes and took him into a sheltered nook to watch the others play and run about the older children wildly excited at the freedom of the decks again.
By mid September the weather was quite warm and it was felt that the long journey fast coming to an end.
One evening after the children were abed, Mary and Murdoch stood speaking to the Trent’s and Mr. Forrest.
“We wonder,” said Murdoch, “whether we imagine it, but we feel we can smell something different in the air.”
“That’s Australia!” “It’s the eucalyptus.” “It’s gum leaves” said the three Australians. They laughed at the astounded looks. William Forrest explained. “It is true, you can smell the land. It is really a pungent smell and after all this sea air, you can pick it up easily.”
“You may, sir, but I must admit we are used to pungent smells. I am so glad you do not share our accommodation, for we do have pungent smells. I do agree anyway, that Australia has an agreeable smell. It makes our new life seem so close.” As he said this his arm stole around Mary’s waist. His Mary was very quiet about their new life. He felt a fear and lack of enthusiasm for all that was ahead of them. At this moment he could see she had a frozen look, one that he rather feared. When she looked like this he felt she was far from him. Perhaps she was. Perhaps she was in Skye again. Murdoch was fortunate that he accepted whatever came, he didn’t fret about what he didn’t have. He wanted the best for his family and he felt that they’d made the right step to get it. For Mary it was different. She felt the hardships badly. She was a proud, upright lass and it had hurt her badly to have to let her loved ones share this horrid polluted life of the last months. Well, if this Australia was as big and empty as they had heard, she would be able to nestle her flock under her wings again without interference. If only they knew what was before them. If only they had a place to go to. Oh well, he would leave it all to the Lord, He had never let them down.
Murdoch realised that John Trent had addressed him.
“I don’t think you’re li
stening Macdonald.”
“Sorry, Mr. Trent, I was day-dreaming, wondering what is before us.”
“We were saying just now that Forrest and I would be willing to give the men of your party references. Even though we’ve known you such a short while, it may help you.”
“Thank you, sir, very much indeed. I am sure it will assist greatly. The others will be most grateful too.”
“We’ll see that you will have them before we dock in Sydney.”
“If you will excuse us, we will tell them. Goodnight Mrs. Trent, Mr. Trent, Mr. Parry. Come Mary.” He took her hand as she also said goodnight and led her below.
“He seems a very upright fellow Will doesn’t he.”
“Yes, he does. In fact, they all are. I’m willing to believe that they are workers.”
“I do have a feeling that Mrs. Macdonald is not as happy as her husband though,” put in Emma Trent.
“Mrs. Macdonald seems a very fine woman, Emma.”
“Oh, I’m not denying that. In fact I have become very fond of her. I am sorry she will not be living in Sydney. I would like to follow her life. I am saying that she has a deep unhappiness in her. I think she mistrusts this life she is about to enter. The circles under her large blue eyes are getting larger. This tells me of many sleepless nights, I am thinking.”
“Perhaps her small child keeps her awake, Emma,” put in William Forrest.
“He certainly is a worry to her. No, I do not think that Mary Macdonald is accepting of this new life as the others in the party.”
“I hope for her sake she becomes reconciled to it, my dear. I do feel New South Wales has a lot to offer a newcomer.” John took her hand. “Your people came when life in the Colony was very grim and they came to terms with it.”
“Yes, I know dear, and I think she will too, but I have a feeling that she will be badly hurt by it all before that. The men have it a lot easier than the women. I have lived in the Colony all my life, but I have never had to live in a farm house with the bare essentials and have snakes and spiders and all sorts of creepy things running all over me. I would hate it and I am sure Mrs. Macdonald is a sensitive soul and will hate it too. I have compassion for her.”
The Heather to the Hawkesbury Page 4
