 Both were whalers that had chartered to carry convicts on the outward voyage from Britain and land them at Sydney before going whaling.In the early 19th century, Kororareka (now called Russell) in the Bay of Islands was an important port of call for whaling and sealing ships, and developed a wild reputation being called the "Hellhole of the Pacific" by Charles Darwin who did not like his time in New Zealand.His opinion reflected that of many of the early Christian missionaries.