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DIGITIZED BY PETER KILLACKEY
Though without historical records of a petticoated bushranger, cases of runaways are not unknown. Dislike of the restraint of service, fear of impending punishment, and a love of daring and debauchery, have led women to flee to the bush, though usually in company with those of the other sex. Bushrangers have not been indifferent to such society, and persons of more respectable social position have shown the same taste. Many years ago a sailor left his vessel and took refuge among the mountains, accompanied by a young girl, who preferred him to more orthodox service. Instead of allying himself with bushrangers, he is said to have afforded the Government assistance during several years of his hermit life.
The home life of women exposed them less to the curses of convictism; in the opinion of most men "when the judge passes sentence of transportation, he opens an ulcer in the heart that neither time nor penitence itself can wholly heal." Before Sorrell's time female prisoners were left to do as they pleased; then an order came out for "all women at large to give an account of the grounds on which they pretended to pardon." After this the law took more cognizance of them. Incorrigables are to be found among the females as among the men. We hear of an untameable one, who seldom remained beyond a few days, sometimes not an hour, with a mistress, to whom she was assigned. All sorts of inflictions were tried. She was repeatedly placed in solitary cells, for a week or ten days at a time; bread and water diet was tried; she was exposed in the stocks; and more than once suffered the degradation of head shaving. She received twenty-two convictions.
Nearly thirty years ago a free man married a very fine looking female convict. The mate of an Indian vessel secured her favour and obtained her person. She bolted from the Colony. Neglected and even cruelly treated by her seducer, she lived a life of vice and misery in Calcutta, until she was discovered to be a runaway. Escaping from gaol, she went up into the country with her rescuer. Again observed, she was brought to town, and confined in a filthy and pestiferous cell, until an occasion offered to send her to Hobart Town.
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