Laws in England during this period were very hard, and

　　people were punished severely for even the smallest crimes. A man could be sentenced to death for hunting on another man's

　　property or he could be put to death for chopping down someone else's tree. For many other crimes, the punishment was

　　"transportation". The guilty person was shipped to a distant land where he was forced to work without pay. Often women

　　and children were shipped to other lands too.

　　In 1770, Captain Cook had discovered the continent of Australia and claimed it for England. At first, England found

　　no use for this vast land on the other side of the world, but then the American Revolution took place. England could no longer ship her convicts to the American colonies (殖民地). So

　　she turned to Australia as a good place for her prisoners.

　　A former naval captain was picked to accompany the convicts to the new colony. His job was to help them build a settlement which he would govern. The captain was glad to go.

　　He believed the convicts could learn to live in peace. He felt they would obey the laws in the new country.

　　In January 1788, the English fleet and its cargo--the convicts landed on Australia. After days of searching, the captain found a good harbor. The land nearby had trees and streams. The convict colony made a new beginning here. Australia's history thus began.

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