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THE  “SS HESPERUS”



They came in 1838 in the SS. Hesperus

Putting everything in Lord Rama's trust

These courageous pioneers were the first

To quench their adventurous thirst

Not knowing their real destination

They braved the waters with determination

For these children of Mother India

Were heading for British Guiana

Waiting for days without a meal

They endured the awesome ordeal

Hoping for betterment in exultation

As they went through Gov't regulation



Herded in corrugated sheds

Without food, water or beds

The literate and semi-illiterates

Separated from relatives and mates

As they boarded the SS Hesperus

Amidst the crews' curses and fuss



With their jahajis they made a home on that ship

Scared of the whistling winds and the bull-whip

Little do us and others know

Of these pioneers of long ago

They were of sturdier stuff

As the ocean currents got rough

These intrepid pioneers of British Guiana

Were of very high calibre and stamina

Hoping to cross the Indian and Atlantic oceans

Despite the meagre ration of portions



Packed like salmon in a sardine tin

With skipper and crews committing sin

Many died of torture when rebelled

And protested when virgins were held

Others stayed mute stifled in fear

In order that they may not disappear

The wretched Baboo hid his head in a gourd

Rather than facing the sharks over-board

Seeing babies born then died

Because of malaria and typhoid

    

The aged and sick who lost their souls

Were thrown to the waiting shoals

With tattered sails she flutters

Entering the rough Atlantic waters

Creaking in agony under her heavy load

As crews ballast all they can afford

For greed, disease and nature

Took an upper-hand later



         The Hesperus sailed with a heavy girth

As women scream in pitiable child-birth

Of all these daughters of India

Some made it to British Guiana

Long drawn, haggard and unkempt

Were the pioneers as they made an attempt

To embark on the greenheart stel1ing

Some crawling, sliding and falling

Some so weakened and lamed

Like cavemen so untamed



Bulging, blood-shot unwinked eyes

Gazing at the tropical skies

Welcome by flies and mosquitoes

By the stelling near rotten potatoes

They brought seeds, sugar cane and rice

Peppers, ointments and other spice

Yams, plantains, fruits and cassava

And after a hard days work for the Bakrah

They try to forget their heavy burden

And at nights will plant a kitchen garden    

Then they called them indentured servants

But they were paid a mere pittance

They worked like slaves bearing their hardship

Trying to fulfill their contracted indentureship

Exerted by the Bakrah to produce more

As they existed in logies with earthen floor

Adapting to similar climatic conditions

As they toiled in the sugar plantations

Working tirelessly on all fronts

Cutting cane and pulling punts

At last their work came to a stop

For the indentureship for some was up

Many left British Guiana with a sad memory

Preferring that homeward nightmarish journey

For the British never fulfilled their promises

Leaving the coo1ies  with mental blemishes.