Page:History of merchant shipping and ancient commerce (Volume 3).djvu/358



The filthy state of these ships during the passage was, at that period, worse than anything that could be imagined. It was scarcely possible to induce the passengers to sweep the decks after their meals, or to be decent with respect to the common wants of nature; in many cases, in bad weather, they could not go on deck, their health suffered so much that their strength was gone, and they had not the power to help themselves. Hence, "between decks" was like a loathsome dungeon. When the hatchways were opened under which the people were stowed, the steam rose, and the stench was like that from a pen of pigs. The few beds they had were in a dreadful state, for the straw, once wet with sea-water, soon rotted; besides which, they used the between decks for all sorts of filthy purposes. Whenever vessels put back from distress, all these miseries and sufferings were exhibited in the most aggravated form. In one case, it appeared that the vessel, having experienced rough weather, the people were unable to go on deck and cook their provisions; the strongest maintained the upper hand over the weakest; and it was even said that there were women, who died of starvation. The passengers were then expected to cook for themselves (they no longer do so), and, from being unable to do this, the greatest suffering arose. It was at the commencement of the voyage, that this system, naturally, produced its worst effects. The first days were those in which the people suffered most from sea-sickness, and, under the prostration of body thereby induced, were wholly incapacitated