- Listenly
- Public Library
- Watkin Tench
- A Narrative of the Expedition to Botany-Bay
Chapters
21 totalA Narrative of the Expedition to Botany Bay - by - Watkin Tench
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER I - From the Embarkation of the Convicts, to the Departure of the Ships from England.
CHAPTER II. - From the Departure, to the Arrival of the Fleet at Teneriffe.
CHAPTER III. - From the Fleet's Arrival at Teneriffe, to its Departure for Rio de Janeiro, in the Brazils.
CHAPTER IV. - The Passage from Teneriffe to Rio de Janeiro, in the Brazils.
CHAPTER V. - From the Arrival of the Fleet at Rio de Janeiro, till its Departure for the Cape of Good Hope; with some Remarks on the Brazils.
CHAPTER VI. - The Passage from the Brazils to the Cape of Good Hope; with an Account of the Transactions of the Fleet there.
CHAPTER VII. - The Passage from the Cape of Good Hope to Botany Bay.
CHAPTER VIII. - From the Fleet's Arrival at Botany Bay to the Evacuation of it; and taking Possession of Port Jackson. Interviews with the Natives; and an Account of the Country about Botany Bay.
Description
An energetic firsthand account follows the fleet as it leaves England, rounds the Cape, and pushes into the unknown waters of the southern hemisphere. The narrator blends vivid descriptions of the long sea passages with practical notes on navigation, climate and the sheer scale of the enterprise. Readers gain a clear picture of the nerves and hopes that rode aboard the ships before they glimpsed the distant shore.
Upon reaching Botany Bay the report shifts to the early days of settlement: the formal taking of possession, the arrival of marines and convicts, and the first uneasy contacts with the native peoples. Detailed observations of the land, its wildlife and the challenges of establishing order give a rare glimpse into the colony’s fledgling moments. The narrative balances sober fact‑finding with an honest curiosity about what this bold experiment might mean for the mother country.
Collections
Browse allDetails
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (143K characters)
Release date
2006-05-08
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
About the author
Watkin Tench
d. 1833
Best known for vivid accounts of the First Fleet and the earliest years of British settlement in Australia, this Royal Marines officer wrote with unusual clarity, curiosity, and wit. His books remain some of the most readable firsthand records of life at Botany Bay and Port Jackson.
View all books