servitude.
On the morning of the 31st Ultimo when the chain gang and other long-sentence prisoners had finished their breakfast, they were ordered to proceed to work as usual, the washerman, matmakers, and carpenters were ordered to their respective yards but they refused to do so, and all remained seated. Turnkey Hodge gave certain orders to some of the Prison Officers to hold themselves in readiness and sent for the Warden, Mr. Jones.
He arrived and at first thought lightly of it, as he says he had often seen similar refusals before. He gave the prisoners orders to go to work, they refused. He then ordered the different gangs one by one to go to work, but neither did any of them obey. Jones then ordered them to get up and put away their plates and mugs, this they did, they went back to their places and sat down, being again ordered to go to work, they refused, muttered something and at last said that they would not work, had not sufficient to eat! Mirones ordered them to work again and at the same time sent Turnkey Harge for the sink guard and to get the European prisoners in readiness if wanted.
Jones then asked them individually whether they would go to work, some consented, and others refused; those who consented were put on one side, and when he had gone through...