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[The following is in reference to conditions upon merchant vessels in the 17th century.]

The captain of one Danish East Indiaman was so maddened by the plague of scuttling vermin on board his ship that he offered his sailors a tot of brandy for every thousand cockroaches they killed. Within days, the crushed bodies of 38,250 insects had been presented for his inspection.

Source:

Dash, Mike. “The Tavern of the Ocean.” Batavia's Graveyard. Three Rivers Press, 2003. 105. Print.
[**The following is in reference to conditions upon merchant vessels in the 17th century.**] >The captain of one Danish East Indiaman was so maddened by the plague of scuttling vermin on board his ship that he offered his sailors a tot of brandy for every thousand cockroaches they killed. Within days, the crushed bodies of 38,250 insects had been presented for his inspection. ________________________________ **Source:** Dash, Mike. “The Tavern of the Ocean.” *Batavia's Graveyard*. Three Rivers Press, 2003. 105. Print.

3 comments

[–] [Deleted] 4 points (+4|-0) Edited

BRITISH a small amount of a strong alcoholic drink such as whiskey or brandy. "a tot of brandy"

Seems like a lot of work for a shot of booze.

[–] jobes 2 points (+2|-0)

There probably wasn't all that much to do on those ships in the 17th century, so killing bugs with a hope of getting drunk would probably be the highlight of a trip.

Also imagine living with that many roaches on a ship out at sea. Your bed would have roaches, the cargo you'd be delivering would be infested...ugh
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