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For the majority of the time, however, the Italian speakers were content just talking
among themselves and laying plans for their future in the Colony.
A Ufe of fiiigaUty and hardship within an alpine peasant environment had,
however, helped equip the Italian speakers for the torments of the voyage. Mostly
young, male and resilient, they were able to cope with the hunger, discomfort and self-
denial. Despite this, a number died at sea and many arrived in an emaciated state at the
ports of Melboume and Sydney. Those arriving from Anversa, on 5 October 1855 for
example, had been without bread, rice, or meat for much of their joumey and, in the
last days of their 150 day voyage, had received only a few rotten vegetables.^^ A
moving description of the arrival in Melboume in 1855 of passengers from the H.
Ludwina is provided by Alessandro Brocchi and his companions from Montagnola in
Ticino:
D gierne 5 Ottebre la Secieta Rebera sbarco nel Porto Sidney in
Australia una cempagnia di 176 passeggieri cosi magri e consunti
dalla fame e dalla miseria, che nei altri ... non cenescevamo piii i
nostri cari cempatrioti, e tutti ci siamo messi a piangere fortemente
al vederli cosi tristi.^^
So appaUed were the men on the dock by the sight of their compatriots that criticism
was immediately made of the shipping companies ~ 'immediatamente abbiamo fatto
ricorso alia Polizia, ondefar arrestare quel birbante di capitano; ed immediatamente
si apri un processo'^'* — foUowed by a recommendation that compatriots still
remaining in Ticino read carefully their shipping contracts and not be fooled by the
propaganda:
E prima di stringer centratte con qualsiasi Secieta, e necessario
aprir ben gli occhi, perche sen diggia stati tanti e poi tanti i
maltrattati e gl'ingannati da codesti trafficanti di carne umana.
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