12 INTRODUCTORY 



some sugar, which we had to sweeten it withal) it 

 went merrily downe." 



Another time he ran short of food, and had to 

 allowance his men on the following reduced scale : — 



Two ounces and a halfe of meale for a man a 

 day, and to have so twise a weeke, so that five ounces 

 did serve for a weeke. Three daies a weeke we had 

 oile, three spoonfuls for a man a day, and two daies 

 in a weeke peason, a pint between four men a day, 

 and every day five Penguins for four men, and six 

 quarters of water for four men a day. This was our 

 allowance ; wherewith (we praise God) we lived, though 

 weakly and very feeble." 



What the idea of comfort on board an exploring 

 ship in those days was like is shown in a passage 

 from an account of Davis' unsuccessful voyage of 

 circumnavigation : — 



In this place we fared passing well with egs. 

 Penguins, yong Seales, yong Guiles, besides other 

 birds such as I know not ; all of which we had in 

 great abundance. In this place we found an herb 

 called Scurvygrasse, which wee fried with egs, using 

 traine oyle in stead of butter." 



With possibilities of this sort ahead of them, it is 

 not surprising that the old explorers and navigators 

 prepared themselves for their voyages with a solemnity 

 that is now quite out of fashion. They would cere- 

 moniously cleanse themselves from all unrighteousness, 



