Ship wrecks and musket balls

Chris spent the morning pressing.  I spent the morning working in the house.  Also took some pony nuts across to the miniature ponies in the Carthorse paddock.  Curly Wurly and Humbug both came for them today but still too nervous to catch, although Curly is getting a lot better.
In the afternoon we went out in the South End to check on the lambs which are waiting to go to the abattoir.  We were a little concerned about them because they are now weaned and in a new camp.  This camp isn't as good as the ones they have came from but we had no choice to take them off because the ewe camps need to be lightened off  for the winter.  We have no improved ground here and the lack of rain is becoming an issue.  The lambs are still looking good, at least they don't appear to be falling away.

Parts of a pottery vase found at the Isabella site

More pieces of blue and white pottery

Musket balls next to some small bird bones

Ships fastenings, copper nails etc

Ended up at the site of the Isabella.  The Isabella was a sailing ship which was wrecked on Speedwell Island in 1812.  She was transporting Marines and ex convicts who had done there time in Australia back to the UK.  They built a town which they called New Town Providence.  The buildings were built out of wood from the boat, rock and sod.  They stayed on Speedwell for approx 2 months.  During the time they were here a baby was born.  They were eventually rescued by a sealing ship.  The town as they called it is still clearly visible on the south coast although all the buildings are long gone.  The anchor of the Isabella still lays on the beach.  The story of the wreck of the Isabella is well documented from the memoirs of Charles Barnard an American who was the captain of the ship that rescued them.  I personally have not read the book but Christopher has.  Obviously a very interesting book as it is one of only two books he has read.  The other book being Castaway by Lucy Irvine.  Today we picked up some pottery, most of which is blue and white, some metal fastenings, copper nails and the best find, musket balls.  In the book it says they used their muskets to shoot Snipe.  I have put a photo on showing the musket balls beside some small bird bones similar in size to the Snipe.  I cant imagine that there was much left to eat.  Such an interesting place