The Convict Colony-About to Starve-1
By way of easing the situation, Phillip decided to divide his people. Harvests on Norfolk Island had been good, and on March 3, 1790, the 'Sirius' and the 'Supply' sailed for the island with two companies of marines, 188 convicts and 27 children.
There were now less than 600 people left at Sydney Cove. Judge Collins wrote that ' The little society that had been in the place was broken up, and every man seemed left to brood in solitary silence over the dreary prospect before him.'
Even with a reduced population to feed, the ration was cut once again to less than half of the normal amount.
The 'Supply' returned from Norfolk on April 5, only to report that 'Sirius' had been wrecked on a reef and although no lives were lost, and her cargo saved, the ship was a total loss.
An increasingly desperate Governor now ordered the 'Supply' to sail for Batavia (Indonesia) to purchases supplies and hire a Dutch ship to sail it back. The weekly ration was further reduced to 2 ½ pounds of flour, 2 pounds of rice and 2 pounds of pork.
Phillip put himself on the same ration as every one else, and wrote tersely-'We shall not starve, though seven-eighths of the colony deserves nothing better.'
On June 3 there was a new ship in the harbour called the 'Lady Juliana' but instead of food she brought 222 women convicts, which caused bitter disappointment and more mouths to feed. However a fortnight later, a supply ship the 'Justinian' arrived, and Phillip was able to put his people back on full rations.
In the last days of June, three more convict transports arrived in Sydney- the 'Surprise', 'Scarborough' and 'Neptune'.
The contractors responsible for the transports had agreed with the government to transport clothe and feed them, but nothing about delivering them alive. Judge Collins commented that 'the dead were more profitable than the living'.
Appalling conditions on the way out had accounted for a quarter of about 1,000 of the convicts. Brutality disease and deliberate starvation had done the job. Even as the ships came up the harbour, many naked bodies were thrown overboard, and some died as they were rowed ashore, many others being carried on the backs of others.
Almost two thirds of the survivors were hospital cases. Of these, another ninety died within a month. One can only imagine the horror voyage it must have been. These
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