The PESTONJEE BOMANJEE 1838
arrived Holdfast Bay October 12th, 1838.


Photo of
James C Hawker



Mr James C Hawker, North Adelaide, sends the following: "In your paper lately several locals have appeared re the PESTONJEE BOMANJEE, and as many discrepancies occur in the statements made about that ship, I give the following data from my diary:-

The PESTONJEE BOMANJEE was a teak frigate-built ship, intended for the India trade, 595 tons register. Messrs C. Beck and Co. were the agents, and negotiations with the South Australian Commissioners ended by her being secured for a voyage to South Australia, and on May 28, 1838,she left Blackwall for Plymouth.

The vessel was commanded by Captain J. R. Hill, and the ship's officers were:- Duncan, first mate; Chatfield, second mate; Peck, third mate; Jenks and H. Cawley midshipmen. In the saloon cabin were His Excellency Lieutenant-Colonel Gawler, K.H. (formerly 52nd Regiment), Mrs. Hutchinson, His Excellency's mother, Mrs. Gawler, Miss Gawler, Miss J. Gawler, Miss C. Gawler, Master H. Gawler, Master J. Gawler, Lieutenant Hall, 52nd Regiment, Private Secretary and A.D.C. to his Excellency, Arthur Gell and James C. Hawker under the guardianship of his Excellency. There were also Mr. James McLeod (Lieutenant Scots Greys) and Mrs. McLeod, Messrs McPherson and Austin, Mr. John Knott, ship's doctor. There were several passengers in the second saloon, and in the body of the ship 230 emigrants of various classes.

We left Plymouth on June 11, 1838, and a short time after smallpox developed on a child of one of the emigrants. The doctor immediately made arrangements to isolate the child and its mother. A temporary cabin was erected in the longboat, and the passengers and crew were vaccinated. As a further precaution it was suggested that we should put into Teneriffe and have the ship fumigated. The captain agreed, and on June 28 we anchored there.

On July 1 we continued our voyage, but it being found on examination that our supply of some classes of provisions was very short, it was determined to put into Rio Janeiro and obtain them there, and accordingly we dropped anchor there on August 8. An accident detained us there until the 12th; the HYDASPES, American whaler, in leaving harbour, was carried by a strong tide athwart hause of us. The STAG, English flagship, sent five boats and crews to our assistance, but it was a considerable time before we could get clear, and our headgear was very much damaged. The HYDASPES being deep loaded was cut down nearly to the water's edge, and was a complete wreck.

Owing to the kindness of the Commodore, who sent carpenters and men from the flagship to assist in making repairs, we were enabled to continue on our voyage on August 12, and on October 12 anchored in Holdfast Bay. Eventually the ship went from there to India. On February 17 1851, the Pestonjee Bomanjee, Captain Pavey, from Plymouth with passengers and emigrants, anchored in the outer harbour, and this was her last appearance here. She sailed for Melbourne on March 22, 1851."

The public may be getting a little tired of this noted vessel, but the following information is very much to the point coming from a correspondent:- "The following particulars regarding the now historic Pestonjee Bomanjee may be of interest to your numerous readers. She was a ship of 595 tons, commanded by Captain J. K. Hill. Sailed from Plymouth on June 11, 1838, and arrived at Glenelg on October 12 of the same year, and landed Colonel Gawler and suite. She then proceeded to the Old Port, arriving on October 15. About 299 passengers sailed in her from Plymouth, the names of some are:- His Excellency Governor Gawler, Mrs. Gawler and suite, Mr. and Mrs. John Bevis, B.H.A. Cawley, W. Lapthorne, W. Percival, E.S. Edwards, Mrs. G Johnson, John Knight, Mrs Hannah Turner, Mrs. T Sage, David and Charles Radford, Joseph Fisher, J.C. Hawker, Herman Radford, Edward Radford, Mrs. Emma Plush, Mrs. Tom Penny, W.H. Burford, Mrs. Grant, father, mother and eight brothers and sisters, Mr. and Mrs. Reid and son William.

An interesting fact not generally known in connection with the above ship is that the owners or agents, Messrs Waddell and Co., gave a grand dinner on board on May 4 to Colonel Gawler, at which 200 invited guests were present. The ship was tastefully decorated with flags, festoons, and flowers, and the collation was provided between decks. In honour of the occasion the David Witton, loading for South Australia, which lay alongside, was also dressed with colours. Amongst those present were:- James Waddell, in the chair, His Excellency Governor Gawler and Mrs. Gawler, Admiral Hawker, Sir John and Lady Ross, Sir John Hill, G.F. Angas, Colonel Torrens, G. Palmer, Jacob Montefiore, Samuel Mills, Josiah Roberts, James Pennigton, Roland Hill and others. After the loyal toasts had been disposed of, Colonel Torrens rose, and in the course of a most eloquent speech, referring to Colonel Gawler, said -"Men must be governed not by force, but by those intellectual and moral qualities, by that mutual sympathy which will induce all to act together in the mighty energy of mutual confidence. Such was the man they had before them.'"

A correspondent writes as follows:- "Mr J.C.Hawker is not correct, though quoting from his journal, in saying that Pestonjee Bomanjee arrived here for the last time on February 17, 1851. I beg to inform him she arrived here on October 7, 1854, leaving November 2, 1854, in ballast for Colombo."
 EARLY EXPERIENCES IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA BY JAMES C. HAWKER
PUBLISHED BY E.S.WIGG & SON, ADELAIDE, PERTH, AND LONDON, 1899

No.1 Sixty years ago-With Colonel Gawler-A fine record-The Pestonjee Bomanjee-A pot hat against a life-At Santa Cruz-Nelson's loss of a battle and an arm-A generous Spaniard-Laymen-A great wine cellar-At sea again-At Rio de Janeiro-An accident-A slave auction and a slave ship-A breach of naval etiquette-Knocking down an Emperor-At anchor at Holdfast Bay.

My first impressions of Australia were obtained from letters which my father received from his agent in New South Wales. Under old regulations officers of the Royal Navy were given grants of land in New South Wales by the English Government on condition that a certain amount of stock was to be placed and kept on the land for a given time. My father obtained a grant near Bradwood, and a brother officer took a grant adjoining and looked after the interests of both. Stock was placed on the land, and as glowing accounts arrived from time to time it was my father's hope that some of his sons would eventually settle on his land. Some years passed, and then there was talk of forming a new colony in Australia. The location was eventually decided upon, and the name of "South Australia" was adopted. Lieutenant-Colonel Gawler, an old friend of my father's, was appointed in 1838to succeed Captain Hindmarsh, R.N., the first Governor who held the viceregal position from the proclamation of the colony in December 1836. An offer to my father by Colonel Gawler to take one of his own sons with him to the colony was gladly accepted, and to my delight I was the one chosen. Colonel Gawler's military career was a notable one. He served in the Peninsular War with distinction, was present at the storming of Badajoz, where he was wounded in the knee when volunteer in one of the storming parties. He was also present at Nivela, Orthes, and Toulouse, and later on commanded the right flank company of the 52nd Regiment during the great charge on Napoleon's Imperial Guards at Waterloo. Colonel Gawler was noted for high intellectual attainments as well as gallantry on the field. He stood first in mathematics at the Military College, and was well acquainted with mechanical and physical sciences, and some pamphlets he published on professional subjects were remarkable for their perspicuity and force.

The South Australian Commissioners chartered the Pestonjee Bomanjee, 595 tons register, built at Dumbarton in 1835, and owned by Stephens & Sons, of Glasgow, and she was advertised to sail in May 1838, with emigrants for South Australia. Colonel Gawler, therefore, engaged passages for himself, his family, and suite. The ship was commanded by Captain J.R. Hill, and the ship's officers were Duncan, first mate; Chatfield, second mate; Peake, third mate; Jenks and H. Cawley, midshipmen; passengers in cuddy, now called first saloon, were Lieutenant-Colonel Gawler, Mrs. Gawler, Miss Gawler, Miss J Gawler, Miss C. Gawler, Master H. Gawler, Master J. Gawler, Mrs. Hutchinson, Colonel Gawler's mother, Lieutenant G. Hall, 52nd Regiment, Private Secretary; Mr. James C. Hawker and Mr. Arthur Gell-under the guardianship of Colonel Gawler. There were also Mr. James McLeod, late Lieutenant Scots Greys Regiment; Mrs. McLeod, niece of Marquis of Hastings; Mr. A. McPherson, Mr. H. Austin, and Mr. John Knott, the ship's doctor. There were besides several intermediate, now termed second saloon-passengers, and 230 emigrants of various classes in between decks.

The ship left Blackwell on May 28, 1838. On our way down Channel, when off Start Point, an incident occurred which caused a good deal of amusement. The clew block of the mainsail struck an emigrant, and toppled him overboard. The man had a new pot hat, which fell off as he tumbled into the water. He was evidently a strong swimmer, but instead of making for the ship he struck out for his hat, and on reaching it he clapped it on his head. Then turning round, he seemed much surprised at the distance the ship was from him. At last after much trouble he was rescued, when pretty well exhausted, but on being brought aboard he exclaimed in great glee- "I saved my hat." We anchored in Plymouth Sound on June 6. Colonel Gawler and some other passengers joined the ship here, and on the 11th we made our final departure for South Australia. Two or three days after our departure smallpox developed on a child, but the doctor took excellent precautionary measures, and all the passengers and crew were vaccinated. As a further precaution, the doctor suggested that we should call at Teneriffe, and when there land the passengers and have the vessel thoroughly fumigated. To this the captain agreed, and on June 28 we anchored at Santa Cruz, and gladly went ashore.

Santa Cruz is very strongly fortified. Every point where a lading might be attempted or effected is covered by one or more batteries. It was here on the night of July 24, 1797, that Nelson made an unsuccessful attack on the town and citadel. The assault was made at midnight. Nelson miscalculated the difficulties of landing and the force which would be opposed to him. It was arranged that all the boats should make for the mole at which landing is effected at Santa Cruz. The night, however, was very dark, and the greatest number of boats did not see it, but were driven ashore in a raging surf, and were smashed or swamped. Nelson, with four or five boats, reached the mole, stormed and took the battery on it, and spiked the six 24-pounder guns mounted there; but the fire from the citadel and town was so heavy that they could not advance further. Nelson's right arm, having been shattered by a grape shot, he was carried back to ship, when immediate amputation was resorted to. The loss in this unfortunate attack was very heavy. The Fox, cutter, with 180 men on board was struck under water by a shot, and foundered, and the Commander and ninety-seven men were drowned. The Spaniards were perfectly prepared for the attack, and with a rocky coast and high surf, and in the face of forty pieces of cannon, Nelson had a [poor chance of succeeding, the ships being unable to anchor nearer than two miles north of the town. The divisions which effected a landing when the boats were swamped found on entering the town a force of over a 1,000 troops opposed to them. Aa flag of truce was sent to the Governor, and a compromise was made by which they were allowed to re-embark, on the condition that the town was not to be molested in any way by the British squadron. The Governor behaved in the handsomest manner, sending wine and provisions for the use of the British force which had been landed, and giving every assistance in their embarkation. Two hundred and six men and eleven officers were killed, drowned, or wounded in this unfortunate attack.

We visited the place where Nelson's boats were smashed, and at the Cathedral were shown by the cicerone the flags washed ashore from the boats which were destroyed in Nelson's attack. The Governor of Santa Cruz called on Colonel Gawler and showed us every attention. The Captain, Dr Knott, and myself hired mules and started for Laguna, a large inland town. A guide was provided to show us the route, which was a very rough uphill track, and required caution for the mules to clamber over. Our guide had warned us that we must give our mounts their heads and there would be no fear of accident. We therefore followed his advice, gave them the loose reins, and were carried admirably. The fine scenery-the grand old peak 12,000 ft. above the sea-level, to the westward, the summit covered with snow, and in other directions rocky coast with intersections of valleys showing culture almost down to the sea-made charming views. Laguna is a much larger town than Santa Cruz, and the buildings are very superior. A remarkable feature was the difference of complexion between the inhabitants of Laguna and those of Santa Cruz. The former were almost as fair as the denizens of the north of Europe, while the latter had deep olive complexions of Spain and Italy, &c. The inhabitants of Laguna ascribe the contrast to the pure fresh mountain air, the town being over 2,000 ft, above sea-level. We returned to Santa Cruz by the same rough track we had come up. In some cases it was almost like riding down stairs. So the skipper suggested that it would be better to dismount at those places and lead our mules, for he said if his mule happened to slip and go bows under he would most likely be pitched overboard into the ravine which was on one side and afford food for some great vultures cruising about evidently looking for a repast. We had a grand view as we descended-the sea in front, and on each side in the distance vineyards and various apparently well-cropped homesteads dotted the valleys and sides of the hills.

I had lived for some time in Italy, and the country round Laguna reminded me very much of that about Naples near Mount Vesuvius-deposits of lava, &c. At some remote time the Peak must have been a very active volcano. In late years only jets of steam issue from parts of the great crater, which is said to be 300 ft. on diameter and 70 ft. deep. One of the sights of Santa Cruz is the immense wine cellar of Messrs. Le Brun & Davison, and Colonel Gawler proposed our visiting the establishment. We therefore called on the owners, who courteously showed and explained to us the whole process of winemaking, and also the manipulation for blending so as to suit market demand. The cellars are of very great length and depth, and the quantity of wine stored in them in casks and vats is enormous. The wine has a peculiar flavour, caused by the vines being grown in soil impregnated with lava. In the new wine the flavour was very strong, but the old was much more palatable, and some was bought by Colonel Gawler to take to the colony. I also got a small cask, and some was purchased for ship's use. The mules at Teneriffe are perfect pictures, mostly dark bay in colour, and evidently great care has been taken in breeding them, for were it not the length of ears that betrayed them they might be taken for small Arab horses. Colonel Gawler was so pleased with their appearance that he wished to purchase one, as also did two of the passengers, but it was found to rig up proper accommodation on board would cramp the space on deck for the emigrants, and the idea had to be given up.

The ship having been well fumigated, and so further symptoms of smallpox appearing amongst the passengers, we on July 1 took our departure from Tenerife. In a few days we were among shoals of albecore, bonetas, dolphins, and sharks, and flying fish every now and then skimmed along the water. Not long after leaving Teneriffe we discovered that many necessary articles of food were running very short, and on August 5 we anchored at Rio de Janeiro to replenish stores. Two days after our arrival an American whaler named Hydaspes, full of oil, missed stays and came right athwart hawse of us. The tide was setting in strong, and she being deeply loaded and a much smaller vessel than the Pestonjee, our stem cut her sides nearly down to the water's edge, and her yards and our head yards got completely locked. The English Commodore, whose flagship was the Stag, 42 guns, sent five boats and crews, and the Brazilian flagship one boat and fourteen men, to assist us in getting clear. This occupied some hours, and the whaler was a miserable looking vessel when she was at last towed clear of us. Our damage was slight, but our captain madder a claim for damages and detention, which was paid without any demur by the agents of the HYDASPES. The harbour of Rio is magnificent, and considered almost, if not quite, the finest known. Numerous lovely bays open out from the main harbour. Messrs. McLeod, McPherson and myself hired horses, and one afternoon rode to Bota Fogo Bay, and here the scenery was exquisite- with tropical flowers and shrubs in profusion, and hundreds of pretty little humming birds tenanting them. On the right in entering Rio harbour was the citadel of Santa Cruz, and on the left the great precipitous mountain, aptly named the Sugarloaf. Rio de Janeiro was at that time a fine city for size, but the streets were narrow and miserably paved. Slaves in great numbers could be seen marching in single file, with bags of merchandise on their shoulders, and they seemed well fed and well treated. After their owners' task for the day was finished they were allowed to work on their own account, and in time with the money earned were able to purchase their freedom.

We attended an auction at which a large number of slaves of various ages ere sold, the owner of them having died. Males and females were offered alternately. A table was placed in the middle of the room, with a chair alongside to assist in getting on to the table. They were all dressed in light gaudy clothing. The men, with arms and legs bare, were subjected to a close examination of their muscles, and prices varied according to the apparent physical power they displayed. With one exception all the men and women seemed perfectly satisfied with their position. That exception was a most beautiful quadroon girl about twenty years of age. She was dressed in pure white, artistically cut to show her perfect figure, and the murmurs of admiration at her appearance when she was placed on the table were unmistakable. Not the slightest tint of dark blood showed in her face, but there was an expression of intense pain as she realised the position she was placed in, and she trembled visibly as she glanced around the crowded room, and evidently noticed the looks of admiration displayed on many of the countenances of those present. Unlike the slow bidding for the human chattels previously offered, a perfect furore prevailed, and the excited bidders vied with each other as to who was to be the lucky purchaser. So far as we could make out the price in dollars realised for her was something enormous, and the buyer was a stout middle-aged merchant, and immensely wealthy.

We had an experience of the horrors of the slave trade when on the following day we boarded in the harbour a slaver which had been captured by one of our cruisers. Some years previously an agreement had been made between the English and Brazilian Governments that all slavers found within a defined distance of the Brazilian coast were seizable. A large slaver had been taken by H.M. brig Rover a few days prior to our arrival. Colonel Gawler obtained an order from the British Commodore allowing us to visit her. There were 238 slaves on board, and these poor wretches had been confined on the voyage in a space in the hold not 3 ft. in height-they could never even sit quite upright. Living now under British protection and supervision, a naval officer and crew were in charge. Mesdames Gawler and McLeod accompanied us to the slaver, and on reaching the deck we found it crowded with slaves, basking in the hot sun, which they seemed to enjoy thoroughly, and it must have been elysium to them after the confinement in the fearful hold of the vessel, where they had been packed almost to suffocation- in fact it was rumoured that many had died on the voyage from that cause. Although the slave deck had been subjected to a certain amount of cleansing, the stench when we eventually went below was so fearful that we had to beat a very hasty retreat. It being impossible to have all the slaves on the upper deck at one time a large number were obliged to remain below.

The general anchoring ground is abreast of the large fort of Vilganhon, and as the Pestonjee was lying very close to the fort we were witnesses to a very amusing incident involving a breach of naval etiquette. The CLEOPATRA, British sloop-of-war, on entering the harbour saluted the Brazilian flag. The Englsih flag was then hoisted on the flagstaff at Vilganhon, and a return salute was fired in the following manner:- An officer, accompanied by two slaves, marched from gun to gun. One slave had a brazier of live coals, from which a coal was taken by the other slave with his fingers and hastily placed on the touchhole priming of the gun, and in this way the guns were fired. Owing, however, to one hanging fire only twenty guns formed the salute instead of twenty-one, the proper number. Very shortly after we observed a boat in charge of an officer, and filled with men, leave the British flagship Stag and make for the port, where the guard turned out in a great hurry to receive them. An explanation was then demanded concerning why an insult had been offered to the British flag by only saluting with twenty instead of twenty-one guns. A humble apology was made, the two slaves were put into requisition, the British flag was again hoisted, and one gun loaded and fired, and so the great breach of etiquettes was condoned.

When we were at Rio the Emperor- long since deposed and dead- was not eighteen years old, stout, and very good-natured. This trait in character was exemplified by an anecdote related to me by an officer of the squadron. His Majesty was fond of having the midshipmen at the palace, and on one occasion at a ball he and several of the middies slipped away to the supper-room, and were skylarking, when some remark made by one of the youngsters elicited a retort from His Majesty-"That's a lie." The words had hardly been spoken when the middy to whom they were addressed on the impulse of the moment let fly with his fist at the Emperor and sent him on the broad of his back under his own supper table. The consternation of the parties present may well be imagined. The poor middy was immediately put under arrest and sent off to his ship. On the following morning the officer of the watch on board the flagship Stag noticed the Emperor's barge apparently coming off to the ship, and His Majesty was recognised as being in the boat. The Commodore and his officers had barely time to muster on the quarter-deck when the Emperor, who was in mufti, jumped on board, and rushed up to the Commodore, asking where young ----, the middy, was. He was informed that he was in confinement under arrest, and the Commodore commenced to make the fullest apologies for the conduct of the youngster, but he was interrupted by his visitor, who insisted that he, and not the middy, was to blame, and begged the Commodore as a favour to free the youth from arrest and allow him and his brother middies who had been present the previous night to go to luncheon with him and spend the afternoon. He also said that he would not leave the ship until this favour was granted, and the Commodore gave in. One can easily fancy that in his heart he honoured the lad for his British pluck in resenting the insult offered to him.

We left Rio on August 12, and on October 10, in rainy weather, we hove-to off Kangaroo Island. We made sail again on the following morning, and at 10 a.m. on the 12th, anchored in Holdfast Bay, 123 days from Plymouth, 104 days from Teneriffe, and 61 days from Rio de Janeiro.

Note: The South Australian Register lists the Pestonjee Bomanjee as landing at Adelaide on October 13, 1838.