554 A. E. Verrill — The Bermuda Islands. 



Hughes and Butler, as well as Captain Smith, all speak of the 

 gluttony and la'ziness of these emigrants, and affirm that large num- 

 bers died of surfeit, rather than from hunger, for the cahow was 

 a very fat bird. Governor Moore was compelled to remove the 

 crowd of 150 from Cooper's Island, where they were killing them- 

 selves by gormandizing the birds and eggs, to Port Royal, where they 

 could get fish. But they were too indolent to do that, and secretly 

 killed and ate the few cattle that had just before been sent there. 

 He eventually had to gather them all at St. George's, and fish for 

 them himself, to save their miserable lives, and that of others more 

 deserving. 



They seem to have been affected with some sort of a disease, 

 which Capt. John Smith called the "Feauges." But this may have 

 been induced by the exclusively animal diet and their gluttony. 

 Possibly it was akin to scurvy. Hughes stated that none of the 

 sixty original colonists died at that time. This may have been due 

 to their having laid up some supplies of vegetable food, like dried 

 or preserved palmetto fruits, pumpkins, etc., or they may have 

 learned by experience to eat the Palmetto-heads and other native 

 vegetable food, to a great extent. 



That these native vegetable foods could take the place of cereals 

 and other ordinary crops, without loss of health, was proved a little 

 later, 1616-17, when it is stated that the colonists had no bread for 

 about two years, on account of the ravages of the wood-rats. 



Capt. Smith described the " Feauges " as follows : " He [Gov. 

 Moore] followed the building of these Forts so earnestly, neglecting 

 planting of Corne, till their store was neere all consumed, whereby 

 they became- so feeble and weake, some would not, others could not 

 goe abroad to seeke releefe, but starved in their houses ; and many 

 that were abroad, through weaknesse were subject to be suddenly 

 surprised with a disease called the Feauges, which was neither paine 

 nor sicknesse, but as it were the highest degree of weaknesse, 

 depriving them of power and ability from the execution of any 

 bodily exercises, whether it were working, walking, or what else ; 

 being thus taken, if any presently gave them food, many times they 

 straight recovered, yet some after a little rest would be able to walke, 

 but if they found not present succour, died." 



Various other details of the early history, from 16] 2 to 1625, have 

 already been given in connection with descriptions of the ancient 

 fortifications in Part I, and productions in Part II, ch. 22. Many 

 other historical matters will be given in connection with the 'lis- 



