e objected to assignment; and the long period of its duration, proves
that the home government cared little for the state of prisoners, while
there was no local press to vindicate their _rights_, and few readers of
books to encourage romantic delineations of their _felicity_.

On the arrival of a vessel, the chief officers of the government
examined the prisoners, and the Governor himself addressed them. He
pointed out their future position, their duties, and their dangers; the
tone of promise usual in times past was considerably abated, but the
awful rigours of their servitude were explained, often to their
astonishment and horror.[161] Often the private examination of the
prisoner confounded him with amazement: a gentleman, whom he had never
seen before, unravelled with facility the mystery of his life. If he had
been often in prison; if his brother had been transported; if his
sweetheart had been deserted; whether he had been a pest to the lords of
the manor, or to the parish, by poaching or bastardy: his whole life was
read by his inquisitor, with supernatural clearness. The raw countryman
did not know how far his course had been subject to the gaze of the
stranger: denial gave way rapidly; he assented, and explained, and
enlarged--and thus the office of the superintendent answered the purpose
of a confessional. It was the practice to furnish all possible
information to the local government, and to keep its details a secret
from the prisoners: such had been the advice of the Commissioner. Thus
the wonder of the country transport, to find that the picture of his
life had preceded him--that all was known at the world's end.

Though no persons could have greater cause to confuse their identity,
the prisoners often stamped on their persons indelible distinctions; a
custom, perhaps, introduced by the sailors, and encouraged by the
officers, but which prevailed among London thieves. Those who suffered
these figures to be pierced, were usually the most simple minded, or the
most depraved. The figures themselves were sometimes obscene, but not
commonly: often mermaids, still more frequently hearts and darts;
sometimes the name, or the initials of the prisoner. Thus, in the
runaway notices (1825), one had a hope and anchor; another, a castle,
flower pots, hearts and darts; another, a man and woman, a heart and a
laurel; another, a masonic arch, and moon and stars, and initials in
abundance. An Irishman had a crucifix on the