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

Cabin passengers included John Hensley (17) and Charles Hensley (24). The following diary was written by John Hensley: My parents had fourteen children, of whom the writer was the eighth. At ther age of 15 I left school and (without articles) was apprenticed to my esteeemed cousin, James Godwin, Ironmonger,whose business developed into a very large and profitable concern, especially the iron business, an encouragement to all (particularly the young) to follow in his strict integrity, application aned perserverence. And here, I would urge the value to young men, of a few years in a respectable business, as they would acquire habits of thrift and order so useful through life, as well as a wide and useful knowledge they could scarcely obtain in any other way. Mine may have been an exceptional case: for few may enjoy such kind teaching, encouragement, and example,as my cousin and master manifested toward me. At the age of 17, I obtained the consent of my father and Mr. Godwin, to emigrate to South Australia with my brother, Charles, who was seven years my senior, and who had been with father and Uncle Godwin for seven years, in an extensive business at 33 and 34 Wine Street, Bristol, woollen drapers and men's mercers. They had been in partnership (I think) for 40 years. Here I would mention that, as a rule, partnership in business in the colonies does not answer, especially in the bush, when so much depends on personal exertion besides; and what is of far more importance, one of a firm may realize taking his own, as well as the wants of the business, to the never failing and unlimited source of help, while the other members of the firm may not know God at all; yet, from the intercessory prayers of the Christian partner, their business may prosper; and this may seem as if in conflict with the ends of God's providence, for He often uses temporal adversity to bring souls to Himself. My father's and uncle's case was an exception to the above, as both were Christians - deacons of churches, and, I have no doubt, renewed daily their consecration to God; hence the long peace and prosperity which attended their lengthened business connections. This digression may be useful. I now return to my narrative. On May 16th, my brother and myself left Bristol for the new and far-off colony of South Australia. We went to London by one of the fastest four-horse coaches, 120 miles, which took sixteen hours, as railways were almost unknown in those days. We put up at Rider's boarding house, Salisbury Square, and after spending a fortnight in the big city of London, we went on board the Pestongee Bomongee, a full-rigged ship of 500 tons, which lay in one of the London docks. We looked with much interest on the ship and our cabin, which was to be our home for months. The passage to Plymouth was favourable, where Governor Gawler, Mrs. Gawler, family and suite came on board. We sailed from Plymouth on June 11th, 1838, the little ship being very crowded with passengers and a full cargo of goods. Our father was anxious for us to go by the Pestongee, thinking such fellow passengers as Colonel Gawler might be an advantage to us. Nothing particular took place until the Bay of Biscay, excepting that sea sickness was general amongst the passengers, the writer being the only one (I believe) who escaped this distressing illness. In the Bay, so noted for its roughness, a violent wind took the Captain by surprise, I suppose, as nearly all the sails were set. The ship lay over, nearly on her beam-ends, and as so many things were unsecured at this early period of the voyage, damage was done, especially to crockery, the loss of which was felt during the remainder of the passage. THe next event to notice was casting anchor at Teneriffe, where we remained for some days. As the passengers went ashore, we much enjoyed it, some of us going partly up the Peak mountain. After leaving Teneriffe, we were surprised by the news that we were going to Rio de Janeiro, in South America. The Captain told us when we should sight land, which was correct almost to a minute: this astonished some of us. The harbour is admitted to be the grandest in the world, though I think the Sydney harbour nearly as beautiful. Our Captain trusted one of his officers to take the ship up to Rio, as he was well acquainted with the place. AS we approached the town it became dark; and though a loud order came again and again- "Let go your anchor" no notice was taken of the order till a shot from a big gun was fired across our bows; then the officer said it was time to let go the anchor, or the next shot might hurt us. Our captain wishing wishing to send the governor and family ashore in style, had the large boat out, with eight men dressed as much like a man-of-war crew as could be managed, whilst he himself went in his gig; but, alas, passengers, Captain and men had to be brought back to the ship in the evening by shore boats, the men having all misbehaved. After this, the Captain offered his gig to my brother, self, and two others, while remaining, and we much enjoyed visiting Rio Grande, and other places; the orange groves, the town, and many things excited our interest. Shortly before we arrived, two small slave vessels had been captured by the British frigate, "Stag" , and brought to this port, perhaps to obtain provisions; we thought the poor slaves looked very miserable in the crowded little ships. The heat was excessive; and in those parts of the deck not shaded by awning it was much felt: the pitch in the soams became almost in a liquid state. It was amusing to see the change in dress, after our first visit to the town, each passenger having changed the English costume for that more suitable -especially in each male who had secured a broad-brimmed hat. As a parting present, a boat-load of oranges was sent on board. We then left this hot but beautiful place. News spread through the ship that we were to call at the Cape of Good Hope; however, we were disappointed in this, as our Captain was afraid the season was unpropitious for doing so. In crossing the Equator the usual boisterous fun (generally practiced in those days) was duly attended to by our sailors. Two German missionaries were with us, and divine service was usually conducted by them on Sabbath days; but, having only imperfect English, they were only partly understood. A wedding took place about mid-voyage, the second officer being married to a lady passenger by the Captain. As the bridegroom was a favourite with the crew, efforts were made by them to celebrate the event in various ways. One thing I noticed: shavings had to do duty for flowers and green boughs. Two incidents may be mentioned to show the impovements existing in the present day, when all officers on ships have to pass examinations, and boats to be kept in good order. When we were hundreds of miles from the coast of Africa, the Captain remarked to nay brother - "It would be a poor lokout for all you people had the ship been in charge of the chief officer, for by his reckoning we should now be 200 miles inland." The other incident occurred to the Captain's favorite Newfoundland dog - he slipped overboard. A rush was made to lower the boat, but it was soon filled with water, and the dog had to be left; I suppose if it had been a human being results would be similar. We had a few storms which sprung the mizzen mast and carried away a few spars, and split or carried away several sails. Towards the end of the voyage, the sailors gave the Captain much trouble. So riotous was their conduct, that half the crew were suspended from duty, and the Captain requested some of the passengers to assist in working the ship. At length Kangaroo Island was sighted, and, on the 10th of October, 1838, anchor was cast in Holdfast Bay, after 121 days from Plymouth. Among the first to come to receive and welcome the new governor, Colonel Gawler, was the acting governor. Our good ship lay seven miles from shore, and when in a strong wind she drew her anchors three miles, it was said that the Bay had the wrong name; fortunately, however, the wind was not towards land. Although such a small ship, as she would now be considered, she was too large to go up the river, so the cargo was discharged by the ship's boats on to the beach. On landing, we thought it very hot; and our first walk of seven miles to Adelaide was very tiring. The (now) beautiful city of Adelaide we then thought a queer place; and, as the governor had had only a wattle and daub hut with thatched roof to live in, things were in a primitive state indeed. Some felt it very hard to live in holes, reed huts, or those hastily made of mud, after the comfortable homes they had left; ship provisions were mostly used, and these were very dear in price. However, here was my adopted home - here I had to fight the battle of life. Our father paid our cabin passage out, and sufficient to take us home again if we did not like the country, but not much money beside; also a fit-out of clothing, sufficient for two years. Great as the change was, it did not enter my thoughts to return home without a trial; so how to make some money occupied my mind. The first attempt was to enter in partnership with the second officer, who was married on the voyage out, and who had obtained his discharge and pay from the ship. Our idea was to take cargo in lighters from ships which could not come up the river. This would have been a good paying business at that time, had my partner been steady; but soon it had to be abandoned, owing to his insobriety occasioning the loss of the confidence of those who would have supported us in the enterprise. I came out of it with the loss of my time, and then engaged with Messrs. C. and J. Beck, merchants, with whom I remained six months, though I always had a desire to be in the bush. This wish was soon gratified, when I agreed with a fellow passenger from England to join him in working a preliminary section of land, situated about seven miles from Adelaide. He was the son of a farmer, and knew a little of that business, though he had been for a few years a schoolmaster; he had a wife and three children. His words, when suggesting I should join him, may be worth repeating, viz: "I can see we shall all be starved, unless some of us try to grow something; for I am paying £10 per cask for stuff they call flour, which we would not have offered to pigs in Kent." So we went to work, and a queer figure we made at first. The four bullocks we bought had to remain in yoke, for if let out neither of us knew how to yoke them again; as grass was very abundant they did not lose condition. My partner could hold the plough a little, but neither of us could drive the team, which had never ploughed previously; however, we managed to sow some wheat, barley, oats, and plant some potatoes; but not knowing the proper season, and 1839 being a dry hot summer, there was little return for our labour. We worked very hard, breakfast being over by break of day, that we might commence work as soon as we could see. I learned much that was useful in practical farming, especially in cattle and sheep, during the two years; but losing all confidence in my partner, and not being able to get a fair settlement, we separated. I took my case to Mr. Fisher, afterwards Sir James Fisher, who kindly advised me not to take the case into court. After examining the matter, he said: "Evidently, your youth and inexperience have been taken advantage of and, by going on with the case, you will lose time and expense", so I submitted to the swindle. Here it may be well to retrospect a little, by going back to what I now see was wise conduct on the part of our father, in giving us no intention of further help in money, his idea being, no doubt, to encourage self-reliance. There was a class of young men in the colony called "expectation gentlemen," who were generally the amount of the expected quarterly remittance in debt, never exerting themselves; many of them, to my knowledge, sank into premature graves from idleness and dissipation. At the same time, had we been in urgent need, I have no doubt help would have been forthcoming, as we brought with us from England letters to Mr. Morphett (afterwards Sir John Morphett) and others. It will also be noticed how unfortunate I was in business connections. This may be an important lesson; for although so often urged by pious parents and oldest sister (especially) to look to and trust God only; and although those true friends were daily interceding for me at the footstool of divine mercy, yet I forgot God, who would have guided me had I sought Him, for His precept is: "In all things by prayer, etc" the gracious inference is we shall not ask in vain. Like most Christians, my two regrets are, not knowing the Lord sooner, and imperfect service since. To return to my narrative. I then engaged with Messrs. Beck to take a flock of sheep up the River Torrens (which had recently been landed from Tasmania), and remained with the sheep for a few weeks, till they were disposed of. Two things were impressed on my memory in connection with this adventure: first, tbe millions of mosquitoes and next, being overtaken by an awful bush fire; the grass was high, thick and dry; the fire was about two miles distant, but coming towards us with speed; our only chance of escape seemed to be in crossing all over to the north.