Robben Island was used for more than just a victualling station and a prison. From 1844 onwards lepers were isolated on the island. A governmental secretary, John Montagu, had decided that the prisoners in the penal colony would by better used building harbors and roads on the mainland. As well as lepers, the blind, poor, seriously ill, and the insane were sent to the island. They were made to work in the Robben Island quarries. Their life was dismal, sleeping in small tin shacks or the military stables.When word got out about the severe conditions the first of 12 commissions was instigated to investigate. By 1890 female paupers had been relocated to Grahamstown, and in 1913 the insane were removed.

圖片編號： 35686714
拍攝者： Oliophotography