Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/719

Rh also as to the mortality at different periods during the siege. The following was the tariff at which food was procurable at certain dates:—

February, 1799. August, 1799. July, 1800. a. d. £ a. d. £ a. d. Fresh pork, per lb 2 10 ... 0 6 0 ... 0 7 2 Cheese, per lb. 2 6 ... 0 7 4 ... — Fish, per lb. 1 6 ... 0 3 2 ... 0 6 0 Oil, per bottle 2 6 ... 0 10 0 ... 1 3 4 Sugar, per lb. 5 0 ... 0 17 6 ... 2 0 0 Coffee, per lb. 4 0 ... 1 0 10 ... 2 8 4 Wine, per bottle 2 6 ... 0 3 4 ... — Eggs, each 0 4 ... 0 0 8 ... —

It will be seen that during the latter months many articles ceased to be procurable at any price, the garrison and few remaining inhabitants being forced to content themselves with the reduced rations issued to them from the public stores. Rats and other vermin became recognized articles of consumption, and those that were found in the granaries and bakehouses were, from their superior plumpness, much esteemed. In order to eke out their scanty rations, the soldiers had, in the early part of the siege, cultivated gardens in the various ditches and other suitable places, and had by this means added to their food. So long as oil and vinegar were procurable, the salads which they were thus able to produce reconciled them to the loss of meat, which was issued in very small quantities, and then only salted, all the fresh meat having been from the first reserved for the use of the hospitals. The cultivation of these gardens was latterly abandoned, not only owing to the want of oil and vinegar, but also from the scarcity of water. Ball, in a report to Nelson on the 18th July, 1799. says:—"I have the honour to acquaint your lordship that a deserter is this moment come out of La Valetta, who corroborates the distressed state of the French garrison, and in addition he says that there is very little water left on the Cotonaro side, and that they get their supply from La Valetta. General Vaubois has given orders to clear all the gardens of vegetables, to prevent any water being used there.”

The following table shews the mortality that took place. It