<P> The Sirius carried as supernumeraries, the major commandant of the corps of marines embarked in the transports * (* This officer was also lieutenant - governor of the colony), the adjutant and quarter - master, the judge - advocate of the settlement, and the commissary; with one sergeant, three drummers, seven privates, four women, and a few artificers . </P> <P> The chief surgeon for the First Fleet, John White, reported a total of 48 deaths and 28 births during the voyage . The deaths during the voyage included one marine, one marine's wife, one marine's child, 36 male convicts, four female convicts, and five children of convicts . </P> <P> The First Fleet left Portsmouth, England on 13 May 1787 . The journey began with fine weather, and thus the convicts were allowed on deck . The Fleet was accompanied by the armed frigate Hyena until it left English waters . On 20 May 1787, one convict on the Scarborough reported a planned mutiny; those allegedly involved were flogged and two were transferred to Prince of Wales . In general, however, most accounts of the voyage agree that the convicts were well behaved . On 3 June 1787, the fleet anchored at Santa Cruz at Tenerife . Here, fresh water, vegetables and meat were brought on board . Phillip and the chief officers were entertained by the local governor, while one convict tried unsuccessfully to escape . On 10 June they set sail to cross the Atlantic to Rio de Janeiro, taking advantage of favourable trade winds and ocean currents . </P> <P> The weather became increasingly hot and humid as the Fleet sailed through the tropics . Vermin, such as rats, and parasites such as bedbugs, lice, cockroaches and fleas, tormented the convicts, officers and marines . Bilges became foul and the smell, especially below the closed hatches, was over-powering . While Phillip gave orders that the bilge - water was to be pumped out daily and the bilges cleaned, these orders were not followed on the Alexander and a number of convicts fell sick and died . Tropical rainstorms meant that the convicts could not exercise on deck as they had no change of clothes and no method of drying wet clothing . Consequently, they were kept below in the foul, cramped holds . On the female transports, promiscuity between the convicts, the crew and marines was rampant, despite punishments for some of the men involved . In the doldrums, Phillip was forced to ration the water to three pints a day . </P>

When did the first fleet arrive in tenerife