The convicts sat on the seats with their backs to the passage and facing the water, to undress, while the prison officials marched up and down.
But other ceremonies had to be gone through. When the bathing was over, the men were conducted into a large room leading out of the passage. In this room there were a number of forms. In the centre of the apartment was a table, and at the end of this, facing the door, sat the chief warder.
He was a handsome, pleasant-featured man, somewhat above the middle height, and it was evident that he was an old soldier, for he bore on his breast several medals won on the battle-field. Behind him was a gentlemanly, courteous man, who was the deputy-governor.
At the side of the table sat the doctor with a book before him, and a bundle of papers to which he ever and anon referred. These papers consisted of reports from the other prisons of the men who were sent to Dartmoor. Peace’s party consisted of thirty-seven.
After they had been in the examining room a minute or so, they were told to strip. There was no alternative but to obey, repugnant as it was to many, or indeed all of them; but when a man is sent to a goal to undergo penal servitude, he is constrained to leave all sense of decency, modesty, or shame outside, and it is much to be regretted that some better regulations are not made in this respect.
Indignities of this sort are not necessary—they are worse than useless. They have a debasing, and baneful effect upon the prisoners, lower their moral tone, and render them callous.
In a minute or so after the order every man was as bare and naked as a Pict.
The chief then left his seat, and stood up beside the table, and every man paraded himself before him. This scene is at once degrading and disgusting.
After the inspection they were directed to go over to the other side of the apartment, where they found thirty-seven bundles of clean clothes awaiting them.
Each prisoner helped himself to a clean bundle, and donned the garments as quickly as possible.