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The Long Journey

© Philippa Jane Ballantine

Life's tough in the British working classes of the nineteenth century. You're underfed, got no hope of bettering yourself, you've struggled all your life, and the only thing that you can see is a further descent into poverty- so what do you do?

After reading a rather glowing review of this country New Zealand at the bottom of the world, you pack up your children, kiss the relatives good bye (no idea when you'll see them again) and head off into the great unknown. You're lucky, being one of the twenty six occupations this new colony needs, your passage is paid for, and in fact one of those fat cat industrialists has already signed you on for work when you get there. Your wife is a necessity- no single men allowed, but you've heard that single women are being sort to fill in all those menial servant positions. Ladies and gentlemen can't be expected to fetch and carry for themselves.

So the whole family lines up to get vaccinated against smallpox, and then you pack up all the tools, bedding and clothes needed for the voyage. Of course the New Zealand company makes sure you take certain items like soap- as the journey might get unendurable without some kind of hygiene. When you first see the ship, it looks like someone has upset a beehive. Everyone's scrambling around, trying to make sure that their belongings get on board, clasping loved ones, weeping, and all the while getting under the feet of the sailors trying to get the ship ready for departure.

The ship's doctor on this voyage is particular about checking all the passengers over. He's supposed to after all, but you've heard on some trips they are too drunk or lazy to bother. Eventually you manhandle your family and the little pieces of luggage below decks, only to find it is in fact worse. Here everyone is trying to secure their luggage, and at first it is all piled in the hallways. Well you're pretty used to tough conditions, but it is hard to be stoic down in the heaving belly of a ship where sunlight is scarce and conditions are close.

In steerage you and your wife are assigned a six and a half long, and three and a half wide bunk bed. That wouldn't be too bad, but you also have to cramb in all your personal belongings that will be needed along the way. Privacy is pretty hard to come by in an open plan steerage cabin you share with the rest of your fellow travellers, but you do have a curtain to pull down if you really feel the need. In the middle of the cabin is the communal table, where food and laundry and everything else must be done, so you better get on with your neighbours.

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