Peter Biddulph | Page 8

was then the case as now,--no girl could
remain in the colony without being asked to wed every day in the week
till she made her choice.
Having made up our minds to go, the next thing to be thought of was
the way to accomplish our objects. Without hesitation, I determined to
perform the voyage in my own vessel. She was a remarkably good sea
boat, and a fast sailer, and for her size was very roomy. She was called
by a curious coincidence the May Flower, which was the name of the
vessel which carried over the first pilgrim fathers to America; and
certainly, when my vessel was named, I never contemplated attempting
to cross the ocean in her. Although she was under sixty tons, I
considered that properly handled she was as well calculated to double
the Cape as a far larger vessel, and I felt sure from what I had heard,
that if I got her out safe to the colony she would fetch a high price. If,
however, she was to be swamped--as my whole family and property
would have gone to the bottom at the same time--there would be no one
left behind to mourn our loss. I do not mean to say that I for one
moment thought we should be lost, but still I knew that it was possible,
and I reconciled myself to the chance with that reflection.
The first thing I did was to haul up my vessel, and to give her a
thorough repair, then to refit her rigging, and to raise her bulwarks
somewhat, so as to make her snugger. As she was from the first fitted
so as to be easily handled, her masts were short and very stout; and as

her hull was as strong as wood and iron could make it, she was in every
way suited for a long sea voyage. As I had made up my mind to attempt
to carry out some sheep, I divided her hold into compartments, one as a
pen, another for hay and water, a third for implements of agriculture,
and a few select goods which I calculated would sell well, and
provisions for ourselves. In the after part of the vessel were cabins for
my wife, myself, and my daughters, while the boys with the two men
who formed the crew were berthed forward.
Just as my preparations were ready my eldest son returned home from
sea, and delighted he was to find that his next voyage was to be made
with those he loved.
I was fortunate in disposing of my house and the heavier part of my
furniture to advantage, and the remainder I stowed away on board. It is
extraordinary what number of things the little vessel held. There were
numerous casks of water, salted meat, potatoes, bread, rice, and many
other sorts of provisions for six or seven months. I had no wish to be
starved; then there was the hay for the sheep, which I got pressed into
very tight packages in a way since become common, and by the time
the sheep came on board there was not much space to spare, I can
assure you.
When all was ready for sea, my wife and I and all my children took a
last farewell of the house where we had lived, and the neighbours we
had known so many years, and we then went to church to pray God for
a safe passage, and as soon as service was over we returned on board,
and that evening dropped down the Thames. I have not yet said a word
about the sheep, for I did not take them on board till afterwards. I was
acquainted with a man at Hamburg who understood sheep well, and to
him I had written to buy for me the two finest merino rams he could
find, and four ewes of the same breed. I calculated that I could not
carry hay and water for more. We had fine summer weather and a fair
wind to carry us across Channel, and when I put into Hamburg to take
the sheep on board, I found that my friend had not disappointed me; he
had in truth selected six magnificent animals, and I felt certain that if I
could carry them safely to the colony they would fetch a pretty high

price. Having filled up one water-cask, we again put to sea, and were
now fairly on our voyage.
We had a beautiful run down Channel, and indeed from first to last
Providence watched over us, nothing went wrong, and everything
prospered far more than we could have expected. My wife and
daughters turned out capital sailors, and soon learned to take their turn
at the helm, to relieve my boys