116 STATEN ISLAND INSTITUTE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES 
fortification, but the boughs of trees cast together in the forme of 
a halfe moone by the extraordinary paines and diligence of Cap- 
taine Kendall.” 
By June 15 the fort was finished. It was described as “ triangle 
wise, having three bulwarkes at every corner like a halfe moone, 
and foure or five pieces of artillerie mounted in them.” 
Of those whose position or occupation was specified by the 
ancient annalist, beside the six members of the Council and the 
preacher, 29 are called gentlemen, 4 carpenters, one blacksmith, 
one barber, two bricklayers, one mason, one tailor, one drummer, 
twelve laborers, one surgeon, and four boys, making in all with 
the nondescript 104 persons. 
There was a great deal of dissension among the ill-assorted 
company, which, added to the impracticable scheme of holding 
everything jointly and nothing in severalty, soon began to bring 
want and disease. The steady moist heat of a Jamestown summer 
is trying even to those accustomed to provide against its debili- 
tating effects by proper attention to food and exposure. The 
adventurers were unused to the hot climate. _They paid no heed 
to danger of overwork or exposure. They suffered greatly from 
want of proper nourishing food. One of the party describes the 
situation thus: ““ There remained neither taverne, beere-house, nor 
place of reliefe, but the common kettel; . . . That indeede, he 
[the president of the Council] allowed to be distributed, and that 
was halfe a pint of wheat and as much barley, boiled with water. 
for a man a day; and this, having fryed some 26 weeks in the 
ship’s hold, contained as many worms as graines. . . . Our drinke 
was water. . . . Had we been as free from all sinnes as gluttony 
and drunkeness, we might have bin canonized for saints.” 
In a short while, and particularly in August and September, the 
consequences became fearfully apparent. Nearly every day wit- 
nessed a death of one or more from disease or collision with the 
Indians. Before October, 50 had died. By January 8, 1608, only 
38 survived. 
