Many white and aboriginal convicts were leased out also, in the west as well as the south in the States. Gareth is correct, it was widespread. Of course we get material only on English-speaking countries, no one pays any attention to the practice in the rest of the world. I remember German prisoners of war being put out to work on farms in Oklahoma in WW2, in a climate much hotter than they were used to. Is there any real point in bringing up old history? Unless someone can bring up some songs or chants relating to the practice, leave this material out of Mudcat. The person who started this thread is a troll and I bit.