Nods were exchanged, but not a word was spoken by any of the prisoners.
The chapel was a good-sized lofty room. In it were two large cages—large spaces parted off with iron bars.
Over these was a gallery, with a thick curtain in front, which had been constructed for the exclusive use of the female prisoners.
In one of the cages were about sixteen, who had been tried and sentenced, and were waiting to be drafted off to the several prisons or convict establishments.
All were cropped and shaven close, every vestige of beard being removed, and their hair cut down to about an inch in length.
They were clad in rough grey jackets, trousers, and vests, with coarse blue-striped shirts.
While the male prisoners were assembling the female portion were coming into the chapel by another door, and sat in their own gallery, quite out of the sight of the male prisoners. Two female warders sat behind the female prisoners, and two male warders took their station on each side of the males.
The congregation was of a very motley character: the generality of the boys were poor and ragged; some of them were very keen-eyed and restless in their manner—others were apparently the children of respectable parents.
Presently the chaplain entered in his white gown, followed by an elderly warder, who officiated as clerk.
During the devotional exercises most of the prisoners leaned forward on the seat in front of them.