history

THE HISTORY

OF SHOPPOLIS ISLANDS

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The Voyage

    Under the command of Captain Shopp, the Prize Mary, carrying 342 souls, sailed from Portsmouth on 10 May 1783, only weeks after the Captain's father's death. They covered over 15,000 miles in eight months and took advantage of the time to lay over for extended periods of time to allow those aboard to recover from each leg of the journey. The ship remained in the Canaries for almost nine days; almost a month in Rio De Janiero; over a month in Cape Town. For once in his career, Captain Shopp did not want to encounter any other shipping.

10 May 1783 - Depart Portsmouth, England

3 June 1783 - Arrive Teneriffe, Canary Islands; three weeks from Portsmouth; take on water and fresh vegetables

12 June 1783 - Depart Teneriffe, Canary Islands after nine-day layover

1 July 1783 - Cross Equator

10 August 1783 - Arrive Rio De Janeiro, Brazil; eight weeks from Teneriffe

10 September 1783 - Depart Rio De Janeiro, Brazil after one-month layover

11 October 1783 - Arrive Cape Town, South Africa; five weeks from Rio De Janiero

15 November 1783 - Depart Cape Town, South Africa after over one-month layover

10 January 1784 - Adventure Bay, Van Dieman's Land (Tasmania)

20 January 1784 - Arrive Botany Bay, New South Wales; eight weeks from Cape Town

22 January 1784 - Arrive Port Jackson, New South Wales

20 March 1784 - Arrive Shoppolis Bay, Shoppolis Islands

     On arrival, the examination of Botany Bay revealed it to be reasonably accommodating except for that soundings and some reconnoiter proved the depths to be too shallow for the Prize Mary. According to the rudimentary charts produced for this area, the depths were confirmed to be quite accurate. She would only be able to tuck herself into some of the bays in the north and south heads. The captain didn't like this restriction and suggested that they move up the coast to see if another place might be more suitable. The captain did not approve of any landing, because he did not want any confrontations with indigenous people at this time. The decision was made to move up the coast, with the idea that if nothing was found, they could always return.

     Captain Phillip had mentioned that approximately 9 miles north was a harbor Captain Cook had named Port Jackson. Once ashore, this was determined to be a more suitable place to begin the settlement, but far from perfect. Captain Shopp had no idea that Captain Phillip, with whom he had arranged this trip, would become the first Governor of New South Wales, and that the Captain with whom he drank pints in St. Tudy so many years before would end up the fourth Governor of New South Wales, namely William Bligh. Bligh was subsequently overthrown and subjected to his third mutiny. Regardless of these events, he retired as an Admiral some time later. Perhaps Bligh's legacy is somewhat tainted for some, but the loyalty he earned from his family was second to none, particularly that of his second daughter, the courageous Mary Bligh (Putland), who risked her life on behalf of her father in New South Wales in 1808. Captain Shopp admired her greatly and found her a profoundly fascinating woman.

     Having anchored in both Botany Bay and Port Jackson, it was confirmed that Port Jackson would be the better landing. Instead of the veritable paradise expressed, they found a hot, dry, unfertile country unsuitable for the extent of farming necessary to make the settlement self-sufficient and successful. The current inhabitants, who showed no signs of aggressions, met with representatives of the Prize Mary near the beach, but not on their land. Shopp did not want to presume on the people who owned this country. It had always bothered him, from the times of his youth, that someone could just sail up a coast and claim the lands for a given flag without any regard to those who already lived there. "One cannot claim land and life in the same voyage," he stated on one particularly pleasant night. "Those who claim the land, must earn the people." There was no one on board who could communicate effectively with the natives, and even Tugdual Turiau, known for his language abilities, found it difficult to express himself with drawings and sign language. He found the indigenous people hospitable and confidently stayed in their ways.

     Because of this, Shopp mentioned that no matter where they went or what they did, he would make every attempt to speak the language that was presented to him, and this he made true in Port Jackson. Years later, when he had made a Yuin friend, Dreamtime was explained to him. Shoppolis Islands was rewarded by this understanding which wove itself into the fabric of the new land, but only Captain Shopp was ever able to speak the language in which it was conveyed.

     Shopp and his officers continued to assess the land laid out before them. It was beautiful, in its own right, and they admired the unusual fish, including a large fish with stripes that made their forms appear like they were small horses with bridles, much more than sea life with markings. The skyline was low and wide which meant that defending this land would be difficult and since they had no trained marines or other soldiers to be deployed about, security would be questionable. The local population, if provoked in any manner, could overwhelm them easily, because their number was too low. For the most part, the Prize Mary and her cannons were the only effective defense.

      After about three weeks in the bay, Master's Mate Alistair Devlin, approached the Captain and presented a viable option for the ship and its cargo of people, supplies, animals and other items. He suggested that he consult with Sailing Master, Desmond Pequod, the Captain's old friend from both Indies, who was offering a few alternatives to the crew and passengers. Desmond was called to the Captain's cabin where the small group met to discuss these options. Pequod, familiar with the West Indies, the East, Polynesia and Indonesia, stated that his main concern was the port. If the group remained, the supplies would run out before an adequate "village" could be founded. Food would run out before more food could be added, and sooner or later, problems of immense proportions would arise. Shopp agreed. On the other hand, if the ship left the port and headed to some islands he knew of, the settlers could subsist in a generous manner while further options were explored.

     When asked why he thought things would be different where he was indicating on the charts, Desmond pointed out that, in his world, these islands were referred to as "invisible islands," because they weren't really there. He referred to the fact that the islands seemed to evaporate into a magic fog of some kind, which scared the native islanders. They also called it "the storm place with no sound." Captain Shopp found this almost amusing. These islands were there, but they weren't. Not only that, no person of the islands would put a foot on these 13 islands. He didn't know why, but Pequod did say, that the only threats to the party would be few and far between, but if a challenge did arise, it would most likely come from pirates and wayward western shipping. He knew that knowledgeable sailors steered clear of this area because of the convoluted string of submarine obstructions that were better avoided than negotiated. The waters were quite shallow there, and in many instances, not negotiable at certain times, and weather conditions. In many ways, these particular islands were self-protecting. There were also hills and dales that were shadowed by mountains and peaks. His statement that many ships had been lost there, but none had ever been found, got his attention.

     In addition, Pequod mentioned that he did know if anyone currently inhabited the islands, and if there were, they would not be island people because of their prevailing attitude not to go there, even to visit. He imagined that occasional visitors, particularly in smaller vessels might hazard the channels, but they most likely did not return at a later time. There was no strategic reason to have the islands because of the hostile location, but there were many reasons for a group like that of the Prize Mary to find the place a paradise.

     Any ships rounding the Horn and coming from the east would, most likely overlook the islands, because they were nestled in airs and currents from the east and northeast that would send visiting ships on their way through the French and Cook Islands rather than working them slightly south toward the islands. This location was above the westerlies and south of the eastern flows. Shopp inquired about the Prize Mary's normal 22-foot draft, made even more by the extra cargo and people. Desmond said that he had visited the islands only once, and there was a deep-draft channel that was constantly washed clear of sand and debris by the northeast currents and prevailing winds. If approaching from the northeast, around the eastern-most island, at the right time, and in the right weather, Prize Mary should be fine. Not only would she be safe, once anchored, she could not be seen from any direction even with a full rig up. The harbor was totally within the confines of the area between the east and west portions of what was once probably one island.

     Desmond mentioned that with the talents of those on board and their determination to make a new start, the islands could be just what they needed. Since these people were people of commerce and business with talents also in the trades, such as carpentry, leatherwork and farming, as well as fishing, manufacture and other useful ways to remain productive, the Prize Mary could be free to pursue her assigned tasks using the islands as her home base. Since Captain Phillip had mentioned that other ships and personnel might follow, which meant that they would have to make their own way if the Prize Mary moved on. Otherwise, they would have to return to England, and that option was not really practical.

     Shopp listened to these options, and set some terms to paper. He asked Mister Cryde to read the options to the ship's company to see what they should do. He made sure that all the information was present in the document including the mysticism surrounding the island group. The captain was obviously trying not to make a decision himself, at least at the moment. Desmond remained quiet, and soon, Cryde left for the deck. In a few moments, the boatswain's whistle sounded, and the shuffle of feet and the movement of the ship indicated that the gathering was commencing.

     After much talk among those on deck, the vote was to leave the area. In the fourth week, February 26, the Prize Mary sailed out of Port Jackson and was set a course for the invisible islands that were really there. Captain Shopp considered his decision to sail a number of times on the way, trying to explain to himself why his confidence was so high, and his probabilities of success were so low. His mind would be set to rest shortly.

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