Last year some of my rellies visited from Aus and left me a pamphlet from the Cape Banks Family History Society which as far as I can gather is based in Maroubra, New South Wales. Unfortunately I cannot access their web page and their emaill addresses bounce. The following was printed in their September 1998 pamphlet although the copyright is not theirs. The Bussorah Merchant arrived in Port Jackson on the 4th September 1839. Some of my PEARCE rellies were on board as were Linda B's VAISEYs, some SHIPWAY's who were probably related to the Hawkesbury ones and of course some THOMPSONs. Divine service was performed 14 times (i.e. every Sunday) when the weather permitted; and on each occasion a sermon was read. All the emigrants were Protestant. Two schools were established: one for each sex, and about 54 children attended very regularly. To prevent idleness and consequent disease, the males were obliged to clean the decks and invited to assist the crew in working the ship, which they did very willingly. The females, also, were obliged to clean their own bed place, and were encouraged in their attempts to improve their sewing, by repairing their clothes, making and repairing bed curtains and other light works. They were likewise allowed, and urged to walk much , at a quick pace, on the quarter deck, and around the capstan, which is good exercise at sea, because the motion of the vessel compels the persons so engaged to use considerably more muscular exertion than would be required in going a greater distance on shore, or in a ship at anchor. The best of all amusements and exercises on shipboard, could not be procured for the emigrants - I mean dancing - because no individual among the crew or passengers could play the violin or any other musical instrument; to make up in some degree for this deprivation, such as the males and females , at the much inferior to that of Catalance ? were permitted and encouraged to give evening concerts of vocal music and thus an innocent amusement was afforded both to the performers and to others who could not join them. The lower deck was kept constantly dry (never being washed), and was almost daily rubbed with sand, after careful scraping, and occasional sprinkling with a strong solution of chloride of lime; no persons except those actively engaged in the work being allowed to remain below, during the process of cleaning the deck and berths. The bottom boards of the berths were carefully lifted, almost every day, in order both to promote a free circulation of air, and that no filth of any description might be suffered to remain on the deck below them. It may be added that such of the males as were mechanics, were allowed to work at their respective trades, and that to such occupations in a great degree, and still more so to the cordial co-operation o Captain Moncrief and his officers, in all that was attempted and recommended, may be ascribed the almost unexampled good health of the emigrants during a voyage of unusual length. James Scott M C Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians of London, Surgeon Superintendent.