For the Term of His Natural Life

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R. Bentley and Son, 1886 - 472 pages
 

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Page 361 - But whoso shall offend one of these little ones, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Page 356 - Gabbett approaches; he tries to evade him, and steal away into the bush. In vain. The insatiable giant, ravenous with famine and sustained by madness, is not to be shaken off. Vetch tries to run, but his legs bend under him. The axe that has tried to drink so much blood feels heavy as lead. He will fling it away. No — he dares not. Night falls again. He must rest, or go mad. His limbs are powerless. His eyelids are glued together. He sleeps as he stands. This horrible thing must be a dream. He...
Page 306 - Church, although extended through the whole world, even unto the ends of the earth, has received from the Apostles and their Disciples the belief in One GOD, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven, and earth...
Page 470 - Island cutting the heads of their fellow prisoners with a hoe while at work, with a certainty of being detected, and with a certainty of being executed ; and, according to him, they acted in this manner apparently without malice, and with very slight excitement, stating they knew they should be hanged, but it was better than being where they were.
Page 470 - I then stated the names of those who were to die ; and it is a remarkable fact, that as I mentioned the names of those men who were to die, they one after the other, as their names were pronounced, dropped on their knees and thanked God that they were to be delivered from that horrible place, whilst the others remained standing mute ; it was the most horrible scene I ever witnessed. Those who were condemned to death appeared to be rejoiced.
Page 353 - and 'tis a pity to leave him." Having no fire, they made a little breakwind ; and Vetch, half-dozing behind this at about three in the morning, hears some one cry out " Christ ! " and awakes, sweating ice. No one but Gabbett and Greenhill would eat that night. That savage pair, however, make a fire, fling ghastly fragments on the embers, and eat the broil before it is right warm. In the morning the frightful carcase is divided. That day's march takes place in silence, and at the mid-day halt Cornelius...
Page 408 - I know what b — it is;' and forthwith took from its pegs one of the bridles just described and a pair of handcuffs. I followed him to one of the cells which he opened, and therein was a man lying on his straw mat undressed, and to all appearance asleep. — desired him to get up, calling him by his name, and to dress himself. He did so, and came out into the yard where — inserted the ironwood gag in his mouth, and the sound produced by his breathing through it (which appeared to be done with...
Page iii - to set forth the working and results of an English system of transportation carefully considered and carried out under official supervision; and to illustrate in the manner best calculated, as I think, to attract general attention, the inexpediency of again allowing offenders against the law to be herded together ir. places remote from the wholesome influence of public opinion...
Page 382 - Hong-Kong, the aborigines of New Holland, West Indian blacks, Greeks, Caffres, and Malays, soldiers for desertion, idiots, madmen, pigstealers, and pickpockets. The dreadful place seems set apart for all that is hideous and vile in our common nature. In its recklessness, its insubordination, its filth, and its despair, it realizes to my mind the popular notion of helL May 2 1 st. — Entered to-day officially upon my duties as Religious Instructor at the settlement. An occurrence took place this...
Page 73 - ... came within reach of the swinging cutlass, the ruffian's form dilated with a fresh access of passion. At one moment bunched with clinging adversaries — his arms, legs, and shoulders a hanging mass of human bodies — at the next, free, desperate, alone in the midst of his foes, his hideous countenance contorted with hate and rage, the giant seemed less a man than a demon, or one of those monstrous and savage apes which haunt the solitudes of the African forests. Spurning the mob who had rushed...

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