Ravenswood Dreaming, page 4
Just then John Junior and William Gaze appeared from the track down to the beach, their hair still wet from their early morning swim.
They heard Old John talking to Mrs Ward. Well, that is very kind of you Mrs Ward. There will be plenty to do in the next couple of hours. He looked up and saw John and William. Your mother is going to have the baby today John. Mrs Ward has kindly offered to keep an eye on things around here.
Oh! Is she alright; and then remembering his manners, good morning Mrs Ward.
Did you sleep well? Mrs Ward nodded and smiled, Thank you John.
Yes, as good as I can at a time like this. His father responded to his first question. Can I go and see her?
Old John disappeared into the hut. A few minutes later his head appeared in the doorway. Yes, the ladies said, you can come in for a short time and then that’s it until after the baby is born.
John entered the hut nervously. Inside were three women looking very stern with looks which meant, ‘this is women’s business’ His mother was sitting on the bed.
Hello Mum, how are you feeling? He felt it was a stupid question, but he couldn’t think of anything else to say.
I’m all right John dear. The baby will be a while yet. These ladies will look after me. There is a fair bit of experience in this room. The ladies laughed and then one of them spoke. Now be off with you, young man. We’ll take care of your mother.
John gave his mother a kiss on the cheek and hastily made his exit.
With Mrs Ward keeping an eye on the younger children and James and the eldest of the Ward boys going fishing and John senior stoking the fire to boil water it was left to Young John and William Gaze to show Mr Ward around the settlement.
They walked on down through the sad and dismal row of tents and makeshift shelters that made up the settlement of Clarence.
So, tell me John why the name of Clarence for this er’…… he was searching for a word to adequately describe what he saw …. he finally settled on…. place.
Well I think it was decided by Mr Peel. It is named Clarence in honour of the Duke of Clarence. Mr Peel likes grand things I think.
William Ward rolled his eyes and assumed an expression which could have been interpreted as contempt. But he said nothing.
A little further along they stopped to admire the skeleton of a boat that one of the idle settlers had begun to construct. He said he was a carpenter by trade but had done a bit of boat building back in Cornwall. He was going mad with nothing to do and had seen the quality of the timber that was being cut and couldn’t resist the temptation to make use of it.
So, tell me boys this man has nothing to do and is obviously talented, what has Peel done to get this settlement moving? William Ward looked from one to the other and back at the boat builder.
The boys looked at one another, not much, they agreed.
There is no work other than those people working directly for Mr Peel. No farm land has been allocated and no government work is required in these parts, John explained. So, no farm houses are being built. No fences are being erected as no land has been surveyed. John paused and turned to look at William.
A few people like us have obtained work cutting trees, working in the saw pit and producing building material for the government and private buyers like this man, William explained. But other than that, there is no paid work.
The boat builder nodded, that’s a fair description of the situation, he agreed.
They continued on for an hour or so, Mr Ward getting more and more annoyed about the plight he and his family were now in. So where is this blighter Peel, he exclaimed finally. I want a word with him. I want to know what he is going to do about this situation. I mean there are literally hundreds of people stranded on this beach. Good, hard working people who have risked their life savings to come half way across the world in good faith.
As the grand tour of the settlement continued they spoke to many different people. Carpenters, farmers, mechanics, stonemasons, women with babies and small children, some living in appalling conditions. Many families had one or more of their members afflicted with dysentery and dehydration. Most were short of fresh food and were living on dried and pickled meat and bread. All of them were waiting for things to get better, waiting for the Governor or Mr Peel to do something. Many of them reluctant or unable to leave as they were contracted to Mr Peel.
As they walked they passed most of the passengers off the Hooghly tramping up and down from the beach with their possessions and provisions that had been stacked on the beach the previous day. Apparently, they had decided to shift them all together in a shady spot north east of the Gilmore camp and quite close to the foreman’s camp. The provisions were to be under the direct control of the foreman and would be distributed according to entitlement and need in the next few weeks.
Then for the next few days the new arrivals would have to work and clear enough of the scrub to enable them to pitch tents and temporary shelters and set up fire places for cooking and boiling water. Meantime, most of them slept on the beach and a couple of guards stayed with the goods and chattels; an enormous collection of wooden crates, boxes, barrels, cases, trunks and the smaller pieces of furniture that could easily be carried up the track from the beach.
It was late afternoon when the two boys and Mr Ward returned to the Thomas’ hut. They were greeted with the news that the baby had been born. It was a difficult birth and had left Jenefer exhausted and in a very bad way. She was sleeping at the moment and the ladies were taking turns every two hours to sit with her and keep her cool with fans and wet flannels. She had to be woken every few hours to try and feed the baby. This was not very successful because of her poor health before the birth. Fortunately, one of the women was nursing a baby herself and was able to help out with the feeding.
John stood silently listening to all this information and nodding his head to show he understood. He desperately looked around for Old John. Where is my father? He asked the question to no one in particular.
Mrs Ward answered him. Your father has set off to Fremantle to fetch a doctor. We heard that there is a ship in with a medical officer who is currently treating some people ashore. Things didn’t go too well today John, your mother is quite ill.
I see, he said….. (Then as an after-thought), when will he be back?
With luck, he will be back first thing in the morning. He has asked me to tell you to see that the children are put to bed in the tent and that you sleep there too. I will sleep in the hut with your mother and assist her with the baby during the night.
They have eaten (she indicated the two young children) and I asked them to look after the baby to keep them busy. She indicated with a nod.
John looked over to the spot under a small tree where his sister and youngest brother were sitting next to a box. He walked over to them. They looked up and smiled. Hello John, look at the baby. Jane was enthralled. Isn’t it beautiful?
John looked questioningly back at Mrs Ward.
It’s a boy John, she said smiling.
Yes,……. he is beautiful he said putting an arm around both of them.
In a while you two will have to go and get in your beds which I will make up for you in the tent. All three of us will sleep in the tent tonight.
Looks like everything is under control John. Mr Ward walked over and kissed his wife on the cheek. Did everything turn out alright my dear? They conversed in low tones for a few minutes.
Who will look after the baby? Jane protested to her big brother.
Mother and Mrs Ward will take good care of the baby John reassured her.
James and the eldest Ward boy appeared at the end of the track which led up from the beach. Hello John, have you heard all the news? He put down a tub and a calico bag which John knew contained the fishing lines and other fishing gear.
Yes, I have, John replied grimly. It is not good, mother is quite ill. He used Mrs Ward’s words.
No, it is not. Father has gone to Fremantle to see if he can find a doctor. I wanted to go with him but he would not hear of it. He said I would be more useful here.
And so you have been, Mrs Ward interjected. You have provided enough fish to feed all of us and I see the two of you have even caught some more. She pointed at the tub, and as well as that you have been teaching our son to fish.
Thank you, Mrs Ward, you are most welcome. James executed a slight bow of his head. I can assure you he was a very willing and enthusiastic pupil. He paused, we will be forever grateful for the help you have given our mother.
The sun had lost its sting and was now a warm golden ball sitting on the shoulders of Garden Island. John admired it for a moment while he gathered his thoughts and sorted out what he needed to do.
Well, l will go and make up some beds in the tent and then as soon as these two are tired they can go to bed. Then we might cook some of that fish you have caught James. Have you had anything to eat yet?
No, I haven’t and I sure am hungry. While you are fixing up the tent I’ll clean this fish and put a kettle on the fire. Would you like some fish? James looked over the fire at Mr and Mrs Ward, who were sitting on one of the bench seats, about ten feet away.
They both answered, yes please, that would be lovely.
John busied himself shifting the children’s bedding into the tent and making sure the tent was sealed around the edges. This took quite a while as he had to move in and out of the hut slowly and quietly as his mother was still sleeping soundly.
By the time he had finished James had the large black kettle balanced on some rocks right next to the fire. He had cleaned the fish and had five good sized specimens gently sizzling in an extremely large pan he had placed on some coals to one side of the fire. Finally, James had mixed flour, water and salt into a dough and had put it into a large iron cauldron which they used as a sort of oven. Their father had thought that it might be useful in the new settlement, when he bought it at Cape Town as a ‘genuine African cooking pot’. It served several purposes, boiling water, cooking stew and baking anything that could be baked.
Mrs Ward had gone back to her tent and found a teapot that she also had bought at a market in Cape Town and four English cups with no saucers. They were sitting on the rough sawn table that John’s father had fashioned from the same timber as he used to build the hut. She said that the teapot had come all the way from China. She had also purchased some tea (all the way from China). John smiled at her enthusiasm and her comment, we might not be in a fine English house but we can still enjoy a nice cup of tea.
The fish was cooked and the pan placed on the end of the table. James shifted the cauldron off the fire with the aid of a boat hook and placed it on the ground. He lifted the lid and peered in. The light was fading rapidly now but it was enough for James to inspect his handiwork. It seemed to be cooked but he broke a twig off a small bush and tested it anyway. The twig came out clean, so using the boat hook and a fork, he lifted the loaf out of the cauldron and placed it on one of the pewter plates that Mrs Ward had miraculously produced from the box in her tent. They then shifted the bench seats over to the table and sat down to a delicious feast of fresh fish and hot bread. Then James added the hot water to the teapot and Mrs Ward delighted in pouring a cup for each of them.
When they had finished the meal Mrs Ward excused herself and went in to the hut to tend to mother and baby. The boys and Mr Ward packed up the dishes and other utensils used during the meal and washed them in the cauldron with the remainder of the hot water in the kettle, then stacked them up on the table ready for the morning.
The two boys then paid a brief visit to say good night to their mother. In the faint light from the lantern and some candles they could not see much, just a smile as she held their hands for a moment.
James gathered up his sleeping blanket and straw mattress that he had traded for some fish and said goodnight to everyone, then disappeared down the track to the beach. Mr and Mrs Ward retired to their tent. Young John sat for a while and replayed the events of the day. It had been a bit of a wakeup call for him as he recalled the anger and indignation of Mr Ward at the situation they were in. Up until now he had been letting the days roll in to one another. Work at the saw pit and walking each way each day tired him out. He practically worked, ate and slept and helped his father when he could. His father had been suffering with dysentery recently and it robbed him of his energy. He had struggled to complete the hut before the birth but, somehow, he had managed to do so. Now he had set off on a long walk to Fremantle in the hope that he could persuade a doctor to see his wife. As the eldest son, he was suddenly struck with a fear, would his father return safely? He became aware of the burden that his father carried. His father now had five children and a sick wife that were his responsibility. If Mr Peel did not take some kind of action soon their future here seemed grim. He realised that they would have to seek their fortune elsewhere. He resolved to have a talk with his father about their prospects for the future and to reassure him that he would work hard and help to support the family. He felt very tired. He picked up a large log of wood and placed it on top of the few coals that were left in the fire. He knew it would not catch alight but he hoped that there would be some hot coals under it in the morning to start the fire.
Mrs Ward reappeared from her tent with a single straw mattress, some linen and a blanket. Good night John. Good night Mrs Ward, he replied and she entered the hut and dropped the hessian curtain behind her.
The next morning John was up early and had the fire crackling away and had put a pot on to cook some lentils and oats in a mixture for breakfast. About half an hour later the two youngsters ventured out of the tent and sat at the table with their bowls in front of them. John checked the mixture, tasted it, and deemed it ready.
William and Jane held out their bowls and John spooned a good dollop into each bowl. You are each allowed a half a teaspoon of sugar. They held out their bowls again and John put a measure into each bowl. The children stirred then sat and ate quietly. They didn’t complain, they knew there was not much else and that the precious sugar was down to about two pounds.
Have you seen Mum, Jane paused between mouthfuls, and the baby yet? She was obviously anxious to see both.
No, I haven’t seen her yet. Mrs Ward is in the hut with her. When you have finished your oats, I’ll see if she is awake. John noticed that William had stopped and was staring intently at him. Satisfied that John wasn’t hiding anything from him, William resumed eating.
Mrs Ward emerged from the hut.
I’ll just make your mother some tea with sugar and take her a basin of warm water so that she can freshen up. Then she wants to see you all, she informed them.
I have to be on my way to the saw pit in a few minutes John reminded her, so I’ll go and see her briefly now.
Yes John of course, I forgot. Just knock before you enter. John smiled, it was just Mrs Ward taking charge of the situation. He did not take offence, he was grateful for it.
His mother had fed the baby and was lying back with her eyes closed. She was obviously feeling very poorly. He spoke very gently. Hello Mum, did you get some sleep through the night? She nodded. He continued. Dad should be along shortly with a doctor. I have to go to work now. Jane and William are a bit worried so they will be in to see you with Mrs Ward. She nodded again. I’ll be going now and I will see you when I get back. Mrs Ward and James are here, they will take care of you.
Just as John came out of the hut William Gaze and James appeared at the top of the track. They had both obviously had an early morning swim. We missed you swimming this morning John.
Yes, I had to get things done around here, John replied.
How is your mother this morning? William G. enquired.
Not the best, John shook his head, then paused. Are you nearly ready?
Yes, I’ll just go back to my tent and pack something to eat. I’ll see you and the others at the end of the path in five minutes.
John quickly put some cheese, a couple of pieces of ship’s bread and a glass bottle of water in his calico bag. Then he turned to the children. Now you two do as Mrs Ward tells you and don’t cause your mother any worry. James will take care of anything that needs doing around here, Dad should be back soon.
With that he turned and walked down the path to meet the other timber workers.
James had tidied things up around the camp and gathered some more wood to heat water for Mrs Ward. Then he quickly got the fishing gear ready and walked down to the beach. Mrs Ward had encouraged him to go fishing as she said it was so good to have the fresh fish after living off ship food which lately had been reduced to salted meat, dried bread, and very old cheese.
He had just deposited his gear on the beach at the end of the track when one of the other settlers who was fishing nearby pointed out a sail about one mile north and a few hundred yards out to sea. They stood and watched it for a while. It was making good time as there was a strong north easterly wind blowing and the boat was tacking parallel to the shore. As it drew closer they could make out a person in the bow of the boat waving to them. In addition, there were three other people including the skipper in the stern holding the tiller.
