Author:
Title: Barque "Norna." (Correspondence relative to). [with] ... Further Correspondence.
Description: Sydney, Govt printer 1861. Foolscap disbound; 6pp and 1 page on blue paper. ¶ A sordid story of the treatment of Lascar seamen and, to me, surprising use of authority. Seems if a ship's officer complains to the Water Police that his crew are refusing to obey orders said crew is rounded up and thrown into gaol. The Norna's crew were arrested on the charge of Captain Crawford. The Water Police Magistrate's account here is more defensive than clear but it emerges after much to and froing that one seaman had possibly been murdered at sea and another came close to death in Sydney, due to mistreatment by the captain and second officer. These two were held and charged. Then, the near dead sailor was put back on board the Norna, told that sea voyage would be good for his health and the Norna set sail with a new captain. Probably not a great decision: the Norna was wrecked somewhere round the Coral Sea and most of the crew pretty much marooned by the new captain. But that's another story.

Keywords: maritime history c19th Australia race racism law crime nautical