142 A. EF. Verrill—The Bermuda Islands. 554 
Hughes and Butler, as well as Captain Smith, all speak of the 
gluttony and laziness 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, ete., 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 1612 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 dis- 
