Most of the residents in the settlent had no friendly deanor towards the convicts sent there, and it could even be said they were extrely wary of them.
After all, these people were marked with the label of "convict" from the very start, which destined them to be viewed with discrimination. Distrust and rejection were unavoidable.
The residents of the settlent were just ordinary people, unable to discern whether these convicts were innocent victims falsely imprisoned, street thugs, thieves, villains, or even more dangerous murderers.
So, it’s impossible for the settlent’s residents to show any kindness to those marked as "convicts."
Of course, they indeed have no need to be kind to these convicts.
These convicts were sent to the settlent for labor, and they did not interact with the ordinary residents of the settlent.
Moreover, to prevent their escape and avoid any unnecessary accidents, these convicts were constantly shackled, ten people to a group, and even if soone died, the shackles would not be removed.
Understandably, given the state of these convicts, even if the settlent’s residents were not repelled by them as convicts, they would stay away due to their dreadful condition.
After all, from the Empire’s holand to the Northern Territory, they hardly had any opportunity for hygiene.
Even though sailors on the cargo ship would rinse them with seawater to prevent an epidemic, the sll on them was indescribable.
In so sense, the odor on them was not unlike that of rotting corpses.
The effect of this stench was such that even the most unaware child would not want to approach these convicts.
This undoubtedly spared the settlent’s managers much trouble, at least they didn’t have to worry about how to keep the residents away from these convicts—they voluntarily stayed away from these filthy and slly individuals.
Of course, among the settlent’s managers, there were those relatively more kind, or who wanted to better utilize these convicts.
At the very least, they believed these convicts were useful labor tools, requiring careful maintenance rather than being used up crudely and rapidly.
Thus, when Shay saw the "hundred" convicts assigned to his settlent, his first order to them was to build a bathhouse for themselves and then wash up properly.
This order was sothing of a blessing for the convicts, as, barring so particularly strange people, no one doesn’t want to be clean and comfortable.
As for why they weren’t allowed to just bathe in a river, it was mainly because there wasn’t a river near the settlent Shay chose, so the convicts had to build a bathhouse first and then obtain water.
From a planning perspective, these convicts would later dig a canal to bring fresh water to the settlent.
It’s important to know that the settlent’s water supply, apart from the residents carrying water daily, was dependent on wells.
So, these convicts couldn’t go to the river to bathe as it was too far, and there would be major problems if soone escaped.
Bathing in a bathhouse was relatively more controllable, and the guards at the Punishnt Camp didn’t mind unlocking the shackles while the convicts bathed.
So, after Shay gave the order, the convicts quickly built a temporary bathhouse and joyfully took a bath.
Of course, there was no hot water.
Due to the decree issued by Perfikot, residents of the Northern Territory were not allowed to wantonly chop wood as fuel; they could only collect dry branches from the forest to use as firewood, so fuel was precious.
The settlent’s residents didn’t even indulge in using hot water for their baths, let alone these convicts?
Fortunately, it was already nearing early sumr, and even in the Northern Territory, the temperature was rising rapidly, so a cold bath was not unacceptable.
And after having a satisfying bath, the convicts, led by Matthew, finally reached a passable state, allowing them to start working in a presentable condition.
Their first task was naturally to dig canals or what should be called moats.
In Shay’s view, building a settlent in the Northern Territory, which was almost a wilderness, required more than just wooden walls.
After all, Shay had heard that Perfikot had slain a dragon!
He didn’t expect to slay dragons himself, but he wouldn’t want to rely on a re wooden wall when a dragon or so other dangerous creature attacked his settlent.
Though moats were aningless to flying animals, they were an obstacle at least to those that couldn’t fly.
Moreover, the key was to provide a more convenient water source for the settlent, so residents wouldn’t have to travel far to fetch water or wait in line to draw water from a well.
Shay’s settlent only had one well. Though the water quality was good and the groundwater supply was ample, relying solely on one well to provide water for the hundreds of people in the settlent was indeed too heavy a burden.
Shay had considered digging more wells, but for various reasons, the settlent still had only one well.
However, for now, the water supply problem in the settlent Shay managed was not severe. Although fetching water could be tiring, it was still possible to ensure the basic water needs of the settlent.
As for the future? Once the canal was built and river water was brought in, this would not be a problem.
The convicts quickly threw themselves into work. Although Shay was relatively humane and not overly harsh on these convicts, they were, after all, convicts.
The guards in the Punishnt Camp were directly assigned by the Imperial authorities, and they were not as "kind" as Shay.
Despite Shay having told them to do their best to ensure the convicts’ survival, to avoid them dying frequently, he placed no further restrictions on these guards.
And the reason Shay was "kind" to the convicts was rely that he found it hard to replace them; these free laborers should not be squandered wastefully.
So, when the guards used whips to boost the convicts’ labor efficiency and morale, Shay rely watched coldly.
As long as the guards didn’t kill anyone, beating them to within an inch of their lives was seen as a normal managent asure, and Shay didn’t interfere.
In reality, he didn’t have the leisure to intervene in such matters.
Although having the convicts as labor allowed the progress of Shay’s planned projects to proceed faster, it also ant he had more things to do.
How exactly to dig the planned canals, how long to make the moat surrounding the settlent, and the future architectural layout planning for the settlent...
Shay had a lot of work to handle now, and nearly no ti or energy to concern himself with the treatnt of these convicts, so long as no one died, that was enough.
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