Page 526
An.1691
The Ships Crew distrest with Sickness.
in salt , was but ordinary food for sickly men to live on.
Captain Heath, when he saw the misery of his Company, ordered his own Tamarinds, of which he had some Jars aboard, to be given some to each mefs, to eat with their Rice. This was a great refreshment to the men, and I do believe it contri- buted much to keep us on our legs
Preserved tamarind happens to contain modest amount of vitamin c, Dampier must have physically felt the difference it made. Fighting scurvy and deadly bacteria at the same time is no joking matter.
This distemper was so universal, that I do be- lieve there was scarce a man in the Ship, but lan- guished under it ; yet it stole so insensibly on us,that we could not say we were sick, feeling little or no pain, only a weakness, and but little stomach. Nay most of those that died in this Voyage, would hardly be perswaded to keep their Cabbins, or Hammacks, till they could not stir about ; and when they were forced to lye down, they made their Wills, and piked off in 2 or 3 days.
The loss of these men , and the weak languish- ing condition that the rest of us were in, rendered us uncapable to govern our Ship, when the wind blew more than ordinary. This often happened when we drew near the Cape, and as oft put us to our trumps to manage the Ship. Captain Heath, to incourage his men to their labour, kept his watch as constantly as any man, tho sickly himself, and lent an helping hand on all occasions. But at last, almost despairing of gaining his passage to the Cape, by reason of the Winds coming Southerly, and we having now been sailing 8 or 9 weeks, he called all our men to consult about our safety, and desired every man , from the highest to the lowest, freely to give his real opinion and advice, what to do in this dangerous juncture ; for we were not in a condition to keep out long ; and could we not get to Land quickly, must have pe- rished at Sea. He consulted therefore whether it were best to beat still for the Cape, or bear away for