Leaves used as tea

Mary Bryant’s daring escape!

Botany Bay Tea

In 1791, two convicts, Mary Bryant and her husband, William, made plans to escape the convict colony at Port Jackson. On the moonless night of 28 March, they stole the Governor’s cutter. Accompanying them were their two children, Charlotte and Emanuel, and seven other convicts. After a voyage of nearly 5000 kilometres, enduring gales, starvation and attacks by Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders, they reached Coupang in Timor. They were shipped back to England in irons. William, the two children and three of the remaining convicts did not survive the voyage. Mary Bryant and the other four convicts reached England and were committed to Newgate Gaol.

Mary’s story attracted the interest of James Boswell, the lawyer and celebrated biographer of Samuel Johnson, who used his influence to obtain pardons for her and her companions. These tea leaves were among a store taken by Mary Bryant when she escaped and are said to have been given by her to James Boswell among whose papers, held in Yale University Library, they were found. The leaves are those of wild sarsaparilla (Smilax glyciphylla).
Display item Leaves used as tea

 

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