![]() |
| Home | NLA Home | |
![]() |
EnglishLetters homeWriting…Ellis travelled extensively for many years, leaving her husband and young son Puck at home. Using the photo of Puck as stimulus, have students write a letter to a family member waiting at home. Ensure they include descriptions of what they are doing and seeing. Descriptions of lodgings and food will make the story come to life. Here is a quote from Ellis collection of letters published as A Flower Hunter in Queensland and New Zealand (Sydney: Angus and Robertson, 1898). She and her companion are crossing a river. I had intended going on by the ordinary coach next day to Georgetown, but as I could not get the box seat, and would probably have had to share an inside one with a tipsy miner or two, I decided to get a trap of my own and to loiter by the way, as I was in search of flowers. There was no difficulty in doing this, and by two that day, I was off on my travels again, with three good-looking horses, and an extra pair in case of need, one of which Jackey, a black boy, rode, while he lead the other (all black boys seem to be called Jackey). I had also engaged the services of Mrs S.a treasure they told me, a woman of ample and masterly proportions, and a motherly sort of old bodyto help me on the way, for this journey is not noted for its ease of luxury. At Mt Albion we stayed the night (pp. 6869). … The river had gone down so much that we could see the crossing; but now another difficulty arose, nothing would induce Mrs S to ford it. She was not going to have her body washed away to goodness knows where; no, she would rather be killed and eaten by natives than that, she said; and all our persuasions were useless. As a rule most Australians of her class are accustomed to roughing it, and having to take the good with the evil, seldom fail you in a time of emergency; but on her all words were wasted no, shed walk every mile of the way back, etc. Joe lost his temper and used strong language. Then again I held out what I thought a sufficient inducement, which had the desired effect, and finally, after an hour and a half, when our patience (an indispensable quality in these wilds) was almost exhausted, she consented to go. At each halt and each fresh dip into a hole bigger than the last, she gave a good wholesome scream. It wasnt altogether pleasant, for when in mid-stream we felt the buggy for a moment float, the half swig round suggested that we might be carried down the river. Even Joe didnt like the look of things, and standing on his feet, with one lash of his long whip and a shout to the horses, he let them have it: and they bounded forward, snorting and splashing, and in another few minutesoh, happiness!we were over, and the perilous transit accomplished (pp. 7778).
Early travel by womenSpeaking and Listening…Writing… It is only quite recently that women have started travelling the world. Prior to this, women simply did not travel alone, instead staying at home to tend to their families. Women were considered fast if they travelled without the protection of a husband or father. In some countries this is still the case. Ellis Rowan travelled extensively through Europe and far more challenging destinations such as New Guinea, America, the Caribbean and the less populated areas of Australia. There follows an extract from Ellis Rowans book, A Flower Hunter in Queensland and New Zealand (Sydney: Angus and Robertson, 1898, pp. 1920). A Flower Hunter was written as a series of letters home detailing her adventures as well as the day-to-day aspects of travelling in Australia and New Zealand. This extract reveals a little of her travelling conditions. …I came home with two big black ticks which had fastened themselves between my shoulders. They take good care to attack you where you cannot reach them. A great many dogs are killed by these pests, and sometimes horses and cattle, but if animals can once become acclimatised to the bite, it does not affect them. The ticks in me were first covered in kerosene and then taken out with pincers, but I felt the bites for many days afterwards. Another most insinuating creature is the little thin needle-like land leech; he very soon makes himself acquainted with you in the long lank grass or in shady places. I couldnt imagine at first what was wrong with my legs, but I soon discovered that their bite makes a most irritating sore. They move along by semicircular strides with bodies poised ready to lay hold at a moments notice, and they are particularly energetic and familiar after a shower of rain. As for spiders, their name is legion; but I am partial to them, as you know, and I think they are more sinned against than sinning; a good-sized one will clear the room of an amazing number of flies. From her letters, we can deduce that Ellis Rowan was an adventurous and practical woman, which was unusual at the time. Investigate the way women in the late nineteenth century viewed their world and their place in it. Contrast the attitudes in todays society with the attitudes of the Victorian Era. Science The Arts SOSE Health/PE English
|
|
| Links | Merchandise | Downloads | Comments | Help | Bibliography | ||