This is chapter 6 of The Penal Preserve, you may want to go back to Chapter 5 or start at the beginning.

6

The early triumphs of the colony were succeeded by a long slow failing. Constructing the tree-dwellings required much more time than expected, and the area set aside for planting proved enormously difficult to clear. The massive trees were toppled at great risk, and, once they fell, required days to reduce them to pieces that could be removed. After three months, still no crops had been sown, and no land had even been fully prepared for sowing.¹

When the crops were finally put in, it was late, almost summer; the outlook for the harvest was not good. And all the while, they were devouring their supplies with unplanned speed. They began to eat their winter reserves on the eve of the summer solstice.

And then the Penists discovered that they were not alone on the island as they had thought.

At the era of colonization by the Penists, the island was indeed inhabited by a group of vacationers.² It seems that although the island was owned by the government, it had long been the practice of the mainland locals to camp there during the summer. Unchecked, these trespasses had developed into a community of luxurious vacation homes. These Vacationers were universally wealthy. The island was only accessible to the owners of boats, and at this time in Martian history, boat ownership was synonymous with riches and personal wealth, an arcane demonstration of opulence. And yet, their excessive pursuit of leisure on the island had led them to a degraded state, hardly fit to be called civilized. They had no inducement to work, and (like all others who are so situated) did not very greatly exert themselves,³ primarily engaging in the consumption of sugary alcoholic beverages and a traditional confection known as potato chips.

The Vacationers were mercurial, probably from mental puerility brought on by their excessive leisure; thus their war-whoop and defiance were soon succeeded by shouts of laughter.⁴ Indeed, the physiognomy of these Vacationers was very expressive: fierce and ferocious in their menaces, in their joy they displayed convulsions that had the appearance of madness.⁵ Vulgarity of speech was very common, and the presence of women and children seemed to have but small restraining influence. Names were sometimes given that were not pleasant to the ears of polite people.⁶ They had the animal look in their eye, which is so common of the uncivilized.⁷

Without exception all the Vacationers were greatly addicted to Alien products. They devoted themselves to acquiring the latest Alien things, which was the only reason they ever bothered to leave the island. Nor did they instruct their children in the Martian languages, allowing them teep instead. The Vacationers were simple children of Alienisms, and many things condemned among the Penists were with them without offense.⁸

In this people, so gentle and affable, it is difficult to recognize the race afterwards covered with sores, wasted by want and vice, animated with revenge; and who filled the colony with disgust and terror.⁹ But, of course, it is likely that they were cannibals, and their wholesale slaughter could be justified on these grounds, if not any other.¹⁰

Unaware of Welles’ plans to use the island as a penal colony and reserve from Alien technology, the Vacationers pursued their old habits, as they had for decades. The monotony of their lives was only disturbed by teepcasts, the laughter of children, and island gossip. But a change was at hand. Their peace was but the clam before the storm. Their pleasant days were to be clouded by sorrow and terror.¹¹

The Penists, after landing on these shores, lived peaceably in their new possession for half a year or more before the two groups came to blows. But the hostility, thus begun, continued with no great intermission until the last of the Vacationers were removed to Flinders Island.¹²

The story of the conflict between these groups on the island is involved in misty obscurity.¹³ Indeed, some historians have claimed that no such Martian residents as the Vacationers ever existed on the island, and that the island was instead overrun by a great number of lions, tigers, and lizards brought there many years previous by a group of sport hunters who hoped to find exhilaration through combat with such beasts. Others have claimed that the island was once used as a breeding ground for a certain species of dog prized for its fleece. They say the population became feral by the time the Penists arrived, and that the dogs roved the island in large packs, attacking anything that moved. Such historians are nothing more than apologists, intent on exonerating the Martians, demonstrating that nothing so horrific as the Line could have ever occurred at their hands.

Chapter 6 tomorrow, same time, same place.

No grain had been sown, and no Government land had been even prepared for sowing. James Backhouse Walker, The English at the Derwent, and the Risdon Settlement 14 October 1880 ↩
At the era of discovery by Tasman, Van Diemen’s Land was inhabited. John West, The History of Tasmania Volume 2, 1852 ↩
He had no inducement to work, and (like all others who are so situated) he did not very greatly exert himself. J E Calder, Some Account of the Wars, Extirpation, Habits, &c., of the Native Tribes of Tasmania 1875 ↩
The natives were variable, from ignorance and distrust; probably from mental puerility: thus, their war whoop and defiance were soon succeeded by shouts of laughter. John West, The History of Tasmania Volume 2, 1852 ↩
The physiognomy of these savages was abundantly expressive; the passions were strongly marked, as they succeeded each other in rapid succession; and their whole figure was changed and modified with their affections. Fierce and ferocious in their menaces, they appear at once suspicious, restless, and perfidious. In their joy, the figure displays a convulsion that has the appearance of madness; among the aged there is an expression that is at once sad, sullen, and severe; but in general, among all these people there is to be noticed at some moments an insincerity and ferocity, which cannot escape an attentive observer, and which but too well corresponds with their character. Francois Peron, A Voyage of Discovery to the Southern Hemisphere, Performed by Order of the Emperor Napoleon, During the Years 1801, 1802, 1803, 1804 1824 ↩
Vulgarity of speech was very common, and the presence of women and children seemed to have but small restraining influence. Names were sometimes given that were not pleasant to ear of polite people. John G Gasmann, United States Indian Agent at Crow Creek and Lower Brule Consolidated Agency, 20 August 1884 ↩
They had the animal expression of the eye, which is so common of uncivilised people. John West, The History of Tasmania Volume 2, 1852 ↩
The Indians are simple children of nature, and many things condemned as immoral among whites are with them without offense. John G Gasmann, United States Indian Agent at Crow Creek and Lower Brule Consolidated Agency, 20 August 1884 ↩
In a people so gentle and affable, it is difficult to recognise the race afterwards covered with sores, wasted by want and vice, or animated with revenge; and who filled the colony with disgust and terror. John West, The History of Tasmania Volume 2, 1852 ↩
Of course they were cannibals. James Bonwick, The Last of the Tasmanians; or, The Black War of Van Diemen’s Land 1870 ↩
The Natives pursued their old habits, as they had done for thousands of years. The monotony of their lives was only disturbed by the hunt, the laughing corrobory, or the tribal conflict. But a change was at hand. Their peace was but the calm before the storm. Their pleasant days were to be clouded by sorrow and terror. The Whites came again. They came not as curious visitors, but to make a home in the land. They came not to share the soil with the dark men, but to appropriate it. James Bonwick, The Last of the Tasmanians; or, the Black War of Van Diemen’s Land 1870 ↩
The first settlers after landing on these shores, lived peaceably in their new possession for several months before the two races came to blows; and the hostility thus began continued with no great intermission, until, and only ended with, the removal of the last of the blacks to Wyba Luma, which was the name they gave their asylum on Flinders Island. J E Calder, Some Account of the Wars, Extirpation, Habits, &c., of the Native Tribes of Tasmania 1875 ↩
The story of the conflict of races in Tasmania is similarly involved in misty obscurity. James Bonwick, The Last of the Tasmanians; or, the Black War of Van Diemen’s Land 1870 ↩

6

Footnotes