490 cook's voyage to dec. 



it had furnished only a trifling supply, I stood in again 

 the next morning, when we had a considerable num- 

 ber of visitors ; and we lay to, trading with them till 

 two in the forenoon. By that time, we had procured 

 pork, fruit, and roots, sufficient for four or five days. 

 We then made sail, and continued to ply to wind- 

 ward. 



Having procured a quantity of sugar cane ; and 

 having, upon a trial, made but a few days before, 

 found that a strong decoction of it produced a very 

 palatable beer, I ordered some more to be brewed, 

 for our general use. But when the cask was now 

 broached, not one of my crew would even so much 

 as taste it. As I had no motive in preparing this 

 beverage, but to save our spirit for a colder climate, 

 I gave myself no trouble, either by exerting authority, 

 or by having recourse to persuasion, to prevail upon 

 them to drink it ; knowing that there was no danger 

 of the scurvy, so long as we could get a plenti- 

 ful supply of other vegetables. But, that I might 

 not be disappointed in my views, .1 gave orders that 

 no grog should be served in either ship. I myself, 

 and the officers, continued to make use of this sugar- 

 cane beer, whenever we could get materials for brew- 

 ing it. A few hops, of which we had some on board, 

 improved it much. It has the taste of new malt 

 beer ; and I believe no one will doubt of its being 

 very wholesome. And yet my inconsiderate crew 

 alleged that it was injurious to their health. 



They had no better reason to support a resolu- 

 tion, which they took on our first arrival in King 

 George's Sound, not to drink the spruce-beer made 

 there. But, whether from a consideration that it 

 was not the first time of their being required to use 

 that liquor, or from some other reason, they did not 

 attempt to carry their purpose into actual execution; 

 and I had never heard of it till now, when they 

 renewed their ignorant opposition to my best en- 

 deavours to serve them. Every innovation what- 



