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the peak period, only the H. Ludwina and the Adele in 1855 being greater. Perhaps to
highlight the devastation that poverty was causing to his village, in his letters Stefano
exaggerated the figures aboard the Carpentaria to 160.^^ Of the 139 aboard the
Carpentaria, almost all were from the regions of Valle Maggia (fourteen villages) or
Locamo (ten villages). ^^ During the voyage, wild storms made many of the travellers
fearful and they prayed for a safe arrival ~ their shared Catholic beliefs a force bringing
them closer together. When, some time later, Stefano recounted these episodes, he
dated them according to corresponding saints' feast-days, these dates being especially
meaningful to the people of his village.^'* It was with great relief that the ship finally
reached its destination and its passengers were permitted to disembark.
Stefano, along with another two Giumagliesi who had accompanied him on the
voyage, was met at the port by his brother. Alessandro later retumed to the goldfields
while Stefano remained in Melboume, finding work as a jeweller and watchmaker in
Collins Street. Within two months, however, he had grown dissatisfied with the low
wages often shillings a day (which was more than he would have earned in Ticino but
less than stonemasons and carpenters were eaming in the Colony), resigned his
position and headed off to join his brother. Drawing upon his 1,000 francs savings
(not, apparently, having availed himself of the council loans) and the little which he had
eamed in Melboume, he teamed up with a few compatriots and began the joumey to
Jim Crow. Like Alessandro, Stefano wrote long and detailed letters to his family, one
of which included this description of his joumey:
Per venire alia mina ci ho impiegato quattro giorni e in questi
quattro giorni si prova digia la vita della miniera; si parte da
Melbourne con due coperte di lana un vase per fare 11 te, una
padella di acciaio per il bifstek, un ferro di taglio per far legna, il
bicchiere di tola, la scoria di te e pane, per un pasto e I'altro, e
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