Page 548
An. 1691
The Women of Santa Hellena.
to the Seamen at this time got what the Seamen could spare; for the Punch Houses were never empty. But had we all come directly hither, and not touched at the Cape, even the poorest people among them would have gotten something by entertaining sick men. For commonly the Seamen coming home, are troubled, more or less, with Scorbutick Distempers; and their only hopes are to get Refreshment and Health at this Island, and these hopes seldom or never fail them, if once they get footing here. For the Islands afford abundance of delicate Herbs, wherewith the sick are first bathed to supple their Joints, and then the Fruits and Herbs, and fresh food soon after cure them of their Scorbutick Humours. So that in a weeks time, men that have been carried ashore in Hammocks, and they who were wholly unable to go, have soon been able to leap and dance. Doubtless the serenity and wholesomeness of the Air contri- butes much to the carrying off of these Distem- pers; for here is constantly a fresh breeze. While we stayed here, many of the Seamen got Sweet- hearts. One young man belonging to the James and Mary, was married, and brought his Wife to England with him. Another brought his Sweet- heart to England, they being each engaged by Bonds to marry at their arrival in England; and several others of our Men were over Head and Ears in love with the Santa Hellena Maids, who, tho they were born there, yet very earnestly desired to be released from that Prison, which they have no other way to compass, but by marrying Seamen, or Passengers that touch here. The young Women born here, are but one remove from English, being the Daughters of such. They are well shaped, proper and comely, were they in a Dress to set them off.
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