Mr Monkey swarmed down one of the many sets of stairs and went to the front of the ship to see the steerage accomodation. These were put in when the ship was converted from an ocean liner for 252 passengers to an emigrant ship for 730. Steerage passengers brought their own bedding, linen, soap, cup, cutlery and three gallon keg, and paid £16* for a bunk in a cabin which was nothing more than four bunks and a washstand. There was a special kitchen for steerage passengers, too.
* more than half a years wages for a farm labourer.
Copyright Rik Shepherd and Mr Monkey. This page last modified 14 May 2006