Prisoners Their Own Warders

of the convicts into classes, their supervision, artificer trades, hours of work, food, and

when Major McNair took charge, sec. A of the third class, a

f trustworthy convicts allo

officers, male and female, and those e

n roads and public works, having pas

hose degraded from other classes or promoted fr

uired more than ordinary vigilance to prevent escape, or regarding whom spe

invalids and supe

ferred to a speci

cn

SINGH, SENIOR

HE J

te

five years. Before a ticket of leave could be granted, the convict had to provide personal security for his good behaviour and continued presence in the settlement; and any misdemeanour on his part involved a revoking of his ticket of leave, and his return to confin

pear at 8 p.m. roll call daily (except those employed at hospitals and in special duties), and were required to sleep in

for 7 years,

14 "

ife,

ligible for an orderly until he had been eight years in transportation; promotion went either by senior

were admitted to this class at

for 12 years, a

" " 2

ife,

was allowed, after working hours, to be outside the prison until 6 p.m., if they had already completed four years in transportation; until that period had been discharged they were confined after work was over. T

MAISTRI OF

HEELW

te

ved their probation in it. They were worked in double light irons, and were not allowed to leave the prison except for work; they were not granted any mone

w sufficiently good cause for leniency. This class received clothing and rations like the fourth class, with vegetables, fish, and condiments; but all were cooked for them in mess under a convict cook. They received no money allowance, and were not allowed to leave the prison except for work. Refrac

the number of lashes was from one dozen up to six dozen with the cat-o'-nine-tails. If passed by the medical officer, the punishment was inflicted in the presence of the convicts, and by s

ntendent acting for him. The defaulter was brought to the inquiry room, the case inquire

E SECOND CLAS

te

ted men who were exempt from all work. No convicts were admitted to this class until declared unfit for hard work by the medical officer and the Annual Medical Committee. Men of approved conduct got the indulgences of their former

stants, an overseer of artificers and of roads. The native staff, being all petty officers raised from amongst the convicts, consisted of three duffa

,900 always under control. The men from India were Seikhs, Dogras, Pallis, or a shepherd race; Thugs and Dacoits from different parts of the Bengal presidency, and mostly f

g, and each received a number by which, until he entered the third class, he was always known. Each convict was then duly inspected by the medical officer before admis

des, according to the degree of skill they evinced, and received a monthly allowance commencing at one half a rupee, or 1s. a month, up to the highest sum given to the best workmen of 1

d none of them were dangerous to health except the cement-s

and plastere

d potters. Sawyers, ston

iths. S

s. Shoe and

rs. T

and lime burners. T

s. Wheel

s. Wood

arcoal burn

s. Ston

F THE FIF

THE FIFTH C

te

ough their probationary period in irons on the public roads. The bulk of the convicts were trained in the prison itself; and after the yea

r for paving. They quarried the stone at Pulo Obin for foundations, and for sea and river walls. The blacksmiths cast and forged from the raw state all the iron work for which there was a necessity. As a matter of fact all material and all labour for the e

ole convict department amounted to 117,578 rupees. In 1860-61 the manufacture account showed a balance of 25,028 rupees in favour of the State, though profit was alwa

to add to discipline we would occasionally give them some extra hours of work, answering somewhat to our "

IGIBLE CONVICT OF

te

en detailed to the work gangs as arranged overnight. The work gangs left the prison punctually at 6 a.m., and returned at 11 a.m.; were marched out again at 1 p.m., returning at 5 p.m. At 6 p.m. a roll was again called for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th classes, who were then locked up for the night. At 8 p.m. there was another roll call for those who had the privilege, and then all we

number. This muster was always in the presence of the Superintendent, who inspected each convict, and if any one had a grievance his name was taken down, and his complaint

t upon the Government Commissariat Department, or by tender calle

. Rice. Dholl or Peas. Salt. Ghee, clarified Bu

s. drs. oz

men 32 5

d Women 24

eing effective, with condiments, f

e. Vegetables. Fish. M

s. drs. oz

28 5 1

28 - - 1

t. The "ghee," or clarified butter, made the rice more nutritious, and the "dholl," or peas, contained both album

as messengers in hospitals or at public offices (when

half-yearly and duly marked – Ni

jail

suits and

d 5th

a "kumblie," and made by the convicts themselves from wool

were supplied only to duffadar

ve badge to indicate the grade, and in the case of an overseer of artificers a hammer and chisel crossed.