In November 1838 James Bell, aged 21, set out in the vessel The Planter from St Katharine Docks in London to travel to Adelaide, an infant colony half a world away. He left behind family, good friends and the mysterious C.P., a young woman with whom he hoped one day to be reunited.The journey usually took 130 days, but due to the incompetence of the captain and the many misadventures encountered it took the Planter almost six months to reach its destination. The drunken brawls and licentious couplings horrified James Bell who, to while away the time, penned a detailed account of all the comings and goings for the eyes of C.P. only, sternly