Wineglass Bay

27 September 2013

200 years ago the Port Arthur prison was rather modern: leading principle was that the mind is stronger than the body, so it was the mind that had to be broken and not the body to be punished. Prisoners were not allowed to speak, whistle, sing or communicate in whatever way with each other or the guards. Each one was locked in a small cell. In the chapel, where they had to attend, each stood in a small wooden box, so that they could see the priest but not each other. Their clothing was a uniform with a hood; only the eyes were visible. After being discharged they often became mad (or they were already mad) and were not able to adjust to the society outside.
The front and its wind (9 Bft) passed us in the night. Soon afterwards the rain stopped and the wind decreased. We left at first light, around 5:10am. We have anchored in Wineglass Bay now, on the east side of Tasmania. Here we will wait out the next front.