Disgraceful state of emigrant ships at that time.
The filthy state of these ships during the passage
was, at that period, worse than anything that could
be imagined. It was scarcely possible to induce the
passengers to sweep the decks after their meals, or
to be decent with respect to the common wants of
nature; in many cases, in bad weather, they could
not go on deck, their health suffered so much that
their strength was gone, and they had not the power
to help themselves.[1] Hence, "between decks" was
like a loathsome dungeon. When the hatchways
were opened under which the people were stowed, the
steam rose, and the stench was like that from a pen
of pigs. The few beds they had were in a dreadful
state, for the straw, once wet with sea-water, soon
rotted; besides which, they used the between decks
for all sorts of filthy purposes. Whenever vessels put
back from distress, all these miseries and sufferings
were exhibited in the most aggravated form. In one
case, it appeared that the vessel, having experienced
rough weather, the people were unable to go on
deck and cook their provisions; the strongest maintained
the upper hand over the weakest; and it was
even said that there were women, who died of starvation.
The passengers were then expected to cook for
themselves (they no longer do so), and, from being
unable to do this, the greatest suffering arose. It
was at the commencement of the voyage, that this
system, naturally, produced its worst effects. The
first days were those in which the people suffered
most from sea-sickness, and, under the prostration
of body thereby induced, were wholly incapacitated
- ↑ See evidence taken in 1851, more particularly questions 4244, 3878, 3879, &c.
