From "Female Transport" (See DT):

Tt hurt me heart when in the coach me native town passed by
To see so many I did know it fairly made me cry
Then to the ship I went with speed along with many more
Whose aching hearts did grieve to go all on Van Dieman's shore.

They chained us two by two and whipped and lashed us all along
They cut off our provisions if we did the least thing wrong
They march us in the burning sun until our feet are sore
So hard our lot now we have got all on Van Dieman's shore.

That pretty well sums up what it was...

We labor hard from morn til night until our bones do ache Then everyone we must obey our mouldy beds to make. We often wish when we lie down that we might rise no more To face our savage Governors all on Van Dieman's shore.