This is chapter 10 of The Penal Preserve, you may want to go back to Chapter 9 or start at the beginning.
10
As summer progressed, it became clear that the meager crops they had managed to plant were not doing well. Most likely, this was because of how late they were planted, but it is also possible that the Penists had no idea how to farm. This is not to say that the Martians as a whole were ignorant of agriculture, but that they went about the business in a very odd manner. The Martians’ preferred method for growing crops appears to have been drenching everything in great quantities of poison.
They had discovered a method of modifying their seeds to make them immune to the poisons so that it was only the weeds and pests that were killed. Quite surprisingly, it seems that there was no discussion of similarly modifying the people and animals who consumed the poison-soaked crops. It is possible that the Penists’ efforts at agriculture did not succeed because this poison-method of farming was not available to them in their isolated state.
When Franklin and Ross calculated their store of provisions, they discovered that at an allowance of half a ration per person per day, their stores amounted to no more than three months provision. A further reduction could allow it to hold out four months.1 Such reductions prompted a wild outcry. Perhaps because it came so early—at the height of summer, when the living should have been easy—or perhaps because the prisoners and guards had grown comfortable with the double rations they had received all spring. Voices were raised, and there might have been a riot had Jane not taken the bullhorn from Franklin and lied to the crowd, saying that it was only a precautionary measure, and that of course there was nothing to worry about.
When the rations were reduced again at the end of summer, the plants had almost all shriveled up and died. It became clear to the whole colony that they were going to run out of things to eat. This early failure was attended with disastrous results.2
Franklin ordered hunting expeditions to look for the lost sheep. The few they were successful in finding were immediately slaughtered and eaten. Having fed on all sheep they could find, they became glad to make shift with such vermin as were available—dogs, rats, and mice—but even these did not satisfy their cruel hunger. They ate leather. Some were even forced to the extreme end of searching the woods to feed upon snakes and insects, and to dig in the earth for wild and unknown roots.3
Chapter 11 tomorrow, same time, same place.
Footnotes
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Whereupon I apointed Capte Tucker to Calculate and caste upp our store. The wch att a poore alowanse of halfe a Cann of meale for a man a day, amownted unto thre monthes pvissyon. Yett Capte Tucker by his industry and Care caused the same to howlde outt fowere monthes. George Percy, Governor, Jamestown Colony, A Trewe Relacyon of the Shippwrackte uppon the Bermudes Ano 1609 until my depture owtt of the Country wch was in Ano Dni 1612 1624 ↩
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This early failure was attended with disastrous results. John West, The History of Tasmania Volume 1, 1852 ↩
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Then haveinge fedd upon horses and other beastes as longe as they Lasted, we weare gladd to make shifte wth vermin as doggs Catts Ratts and myce all was fishe thatt Came to Nett to satisfye Crewell hunger, as to eate Bootes shoes or any other leather some Colde come by and those beinge Spente and devoured some weare inforced to searche the woodes and to feede upon Serpents and snakes and to digge the earthe for wylde and unknown Rootes, where many of our men weare Cutt off and slayne by the Salvages. George Percy, Governor, Jamestown Colony, A Trewe Relacyon of the Shippwrackte uppon the Bermudes Ano 1609 until my depture owtt of the Country wch was in Ano Dni 1612 1624 ↩