| rdfs:comment
| - Tinderland was founded on April 11, 1816, by displaced Dutch settlers who made their way to Vancouver Island, located off the Pacific coast of North America. Here they found a haven away from the harsh continental winters and near year-round growing conditions, as well as access to deep water harbours and long inlets. It was in this environment that the original 14 group of pioneers settled and set about taming the land. On October 30, 1819, the ships departed. They never reached their destination.
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| abstract
| - Tinderland was founded on April 11, 1816, by displaced Dutch settlers who made their way to Vancouver Island, located off the Pacific coast of North America. Here they found a haven away from the harsh continental winters and near year-round growing conditions, as well as access to deep water harbours and long inlets. It was in this environment that the original 14 group of pioneers settled and set about taming the land. The first year passed with little event, as the 14 colonies went about their business, tending growing farms to feed an ever expanding population and by the winter of the second year, the success of the colonies seemed all but assured. That winter though, was harsh, and the following spring was particularly wet, saturating the ground, rendering it useless for planting. By the end of the 1817, 3 colonies had died from a combination of malnutrition and disease. A further three months of similar weather saw the disappearance of 2 remote colonies, some speculating that they joined with transient native populations, others speculating more grisly ends. By the end of summer in 1818, the remaining colonies had congregated in a more central and secure location (now where Edrona is located). The two smallest colony groups (consisting of 4 and 7 people respectively) joined larger, more stable colony groups in a bid to stave off hunger and death. The beginning of winter in 1818 saw the 7 remaining colonies setting upon each other for what little food remained. After several days of bloodshed and death, a truce was called when the chief parson of the colonies was killed by an overeager militiaman. The colony leaders managed to coble together an agreement to end the fighting. They agreed, that with their ships unsuitable for seafaring at the present time, the colonies would set about repairing them on the assumption that the next year would not bring better weather. Once the ships were ready, they would cast off for the nearest inhabited port. The remainder of the winter was hard, particularly for lack of food. The colonists managed to eek out an existence during this time, and only 20 people died. As winter turned to spring though, the weather improved dramatically. And many farmers sowed their fields, still aware that the ships were even then being readied for departure. By the middle of spring though, the weather had been gentle enough that crops were doing well and many colonists began asking if it was necessary to leave. The colonists came together in late May (either the 26 or the 27) of 1819, and debated the pros and cons of staying (and leaving) their settlements. In the end, no agreement could be reached. Nearly half of the population wanted to leave. With the remainder were unwilling to give up their new homes and land, despite the grim toll of the past. It was eventually settled that, once the harvest had been gathered, the ships would be provisioned for the four day trip to the nearest major settlement and those who wanted to leave would be free to. On October 30, 1819, the ships departed. They never reached their destination.
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