Voyage to Australia.

[Jim Brady]

Just reading about the first settlers to Australia.Between 1788 and 1850 Britain sent 162,000 convicts on 806 ships.The first eleven of these ships are today known as the First Fleet,the convicts and mariners are acknowledged as the Founders OF Australia.What I noticed about the First Fleet it left England stopping at Tenerife,Rio De Janeiro and Cape Town.Would that've been accidental to sail across the Atlantic to Brazil or would that've been a planned course and would all of the ships have taken that run.Seems to me to be going a long way out of the way or is that where they pcked up the winds.Interested to know!!
Regards.
Jim.B.

[Captain Kong]

They followed the Trade winds Jim.
They follow the wind down towards the Equater, in the Northern Hemisphere the winds blow clockwise, and then across towards South America where the Trade winds blow anti clockwise in the southern Hemisphere. pushing the ship towards the Cape.
Cheers
Brian.

[Jim Brady]

A guy landed in Australia he was asked by Border Patrol "Do you have a criminal record"he replied "I did'nt know you needed one anymore"
Regards.
Jim.B.

[Keith at Tregenna]

An Englishman, an Irishman and an Australian walk into a bar.

The barman says, "Is this some kind of bloody joke?"

But seriously: in the early years, convicts were put to work immediately on building projects, particularly roads, and farming. New buildings needed to be constructed as the first shelters were just tents and lean-tos.

The first jobs involved clearing the land. The convicts had to chop down trees, then cut the wood up for practical uses such as building. They needed to clear the shrubs and low bushes as well, and prepare the ground for tilling and planting. This was hard work as most of the English tools were unable to stand up to the demands of Australia's harsher, rocky soil.

The convicts also had to quarry rock and haul it. This was used for building, and in the construction of roads and bridges.

Some of the convicts were assigned as servants to the free settlers or the officers. As the colony developed, the convicts worked in more skilled areas such as smithing, building tools, and even more intellectual pursuits where they showed aptitude. One of Australia's most famous architects, Francis Greenway, was a convict. Another convict with a background in printing was given permission to establish the colony's first newspaper.

K.

[Jim Brady]

Keith,The Fields Of Athenry.Now Liverpool FC's anthem the Fields of Anfield Road.
Regards.
Jim.B.

[Keith at Tregenna]

"The Fields of Athenry" is an Irish folk ballad set during the Great Irish Famine (1845–1850) about a fictional man named Michael from near Athenry in County Galway who has been sentenced to transportation to Botany Bay, Australia, for stealing food for his starving family. It is a widely known and popular anthem for Irish sports supporters.

The song was adopted by Republic of Ireland national football team supporters during the 1990 World Cup and subsequently by Celtic supporters in the early 1990s.The song is also associated with the Connacht, Munster, London Irish and Ireland rugby union teams. It's also seen by many as Galway's county song, sung at the various GAA matches when the county is playing.

"The Fields of Anfield Road" was copied by Liverpool supporters to the same tune, but with adapted lyrics referencing their history and stadium.

Fields of Athenry:

By the lonely prison wall.
I heard a young girl calling.
Michael, they are taking you away,
for you stole Trevelyn's corn.
So the young might see the morn.
Now a prisonship lies waiting in the bay.

Chorus:
Low lie, the Fields of Athenry,
where once we watched the small free birds fly.
Our love was on the wing,
we had dreams and songs to sing.
It's so lonely 'round the fields of Athenry.

By a lonely prison wall I heard a young man calling.
Nothing matters Mary when you're free,
Against the Famine and the Crown
I rebelled, they ran me down.
Now you must raise our child with dignity.

Chorus:

By a lonely harbour wall
She watched the last star falling.
And that prison ship sailed out against the sky.
Sure she'll wait and hope and pray,
for her love in Botany Bay.
It's so lonely round the fields of Athenry.

One version of Athenfield Road:

By a lonely stadium wall
I heard a spanish scout calling
Michael, 'Real' have taken you away
Against the Gunners and the Mancs
You scored goals, we give you thanx
Now you must raise your head with dignity.

LINK 1: The fields of Anfield Road with lyrics - YouTube

Fields of Athenry and more: Are posted in the new Music Section:

LINK 2: http://www.merchant-navy.net/forum/m...section-7.html

K.

[leratty]

Try & get a book called "Floating Bordellos" might be Brothels"" ? fabulous read, particularly the fate of the ladies when settling in Aus, many did extremely well (no not as ladies of questionable virtue either) in biz as well as marrying well a number returned to UK to flaunt their success too.

[Dennis McGuckin]

Correct Keith. One of my favorite songs.
Maybe you did not know this.
Trevelyn was in charge of ALL of the corn distribution, and other food stuff's in Ireland during the Great famine.[no doubt a Brit]
I always thought he was just a local farmer.
Can't recall his actual title. Something along the lines of what might be today, the minister of agriculture.
Dont think he had a very hard job. Get the Paddy's to grow it, than ship it to England.
Bit of a baskart by all accounts
Den.

[happy daze john in oz]

Correct Keith. One of my favorite songs.
Maybe you did not know this.
Trevelyn was in charge of ALL of the corn distribution, and other food stuff's in Ireland during the Great famine.[no doubt a Brit]
I always thought he was just a local farmer.
Can't recall his actual title. Something along the lines of what might be today, the minister of agriculture.
Dont think he had a very hard job. Get the Paddy's to grow it, than ship it to England.
Bit of a baskart by all accounts
Den.

Correct Den, at that time most of the big industries of the day, farming etc, were British owned. It was part of the reason for the eventual uprising in 1916.