ADVICE TO EMIGRANTS

Evening Star, Issue 21232, 13 October 1932, Page 1

ADVICE TO EMIGRANTS

GEMS FROM A MANUAL OF 1853 In an old manual published in 1852 is given an assortment of hints, advice,and facts to prospective emigrants from England to the “ gold cqlony of Australia.” It is an exhaustive work, and must have proved very useful to the thousands who, eighty years ago, took part in the great gold rush to Australia-* The book was apparently popular, as its contains an announcement that 30,000 copies had been sold. The most interesting section is thafi which gives “ practical advice to emigrants as to the best method of getting • to the Australian colonies.’’ A verbose I warning is given against booking pas-j sage through any but a reputable ship- | ping company. The food and cooking J conditions on the better ships are mentioned. It must have been most reas-' spring to the voyager to learn that all - Australian-bound ships carried provi-1 sions and water for six months, but : that the voyage, “ if the captain knows ' his business, rarely -exceeds four months, so that there is no danger of starving by the way.” Fore-cabin passengers had provisions , rationed on three days a week, and had to cook for themselves—“ the ship finding the requisite fuel and coppers.” The traveller had to provide his own ' cutlery and dishes. The cabin passen-* gers were more fortunate, as their food [ was cooked for them—“ as at an ' hotel.” These emigrants were advised • to obtain a printed copy of the bill of j faro before paying their passage money.The bill of fare, which is referred to as “the scale,” gave particulars of the .quality and variety of food to which they were entitled during the voyage.The fear was, apparently, that the captain might serve “ short commons.” As fresh water was scarce the emigrant was instructed to take enough clothes and linen to last for four months. His only chance to obtain water for washing was to “ catch the water in rainy weather as it drips froiu the sails.” Advice is given about the outfit which emigrants should take. The minimum list suggested for men wasOne dozen shirts, two Guernsey shirts, a dozen pairs of cotton socks, a pair of food * fustian trousers, fustian jacket and waistcoat, pea jacket, cloth cap, Sunday-going coat, waistcoat and trousers, a pair of blankets, three or four pairs of cotton sheets, towels, etc., two pairs of strong shoes, and a pair of light ones. The minimum list suggested for women was: “Not less than one dozen calico chemises, four petticoats, two flannel ditto, four flannel _ waistcoats, two pairs of shoes, one pair of boots, three cotton dresses, two bonnets, and a .supply of bed linen, etc.” The author cautions emigrants against buying large quantities of tools and equipment in-England, stating: “ Thera is, in fact, nothing which he cannot purchase in Australia as well as in England, and many things which he caii purchase more advantageously there than at home.” A short description is given of the comparative merits of the New South Wales and Victorian goldfields. _ The great disadvantage of the mines in New South Wales was the danger of heavy floods, which periodically swept over "many districts. In Victoria. on the other hand, it was the absence of water in the_ gold mining areas which was the principal drawback. Commenting on the conditions in the Victorian goldfields, the author ends his remarks with a prophetic observation. Lack of water on the diggings had thrown many miners into idleness,and had resulted in a series of lawless outrages. The perturbed Government, with an inadequate police force, had procured the transfer to Victoria of British troops stationed in China. The writes states; “It would not be surprising if some temporary outbreak among the unruly and well-armed minors should be the consequence.”