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over choppy waters, the small, wooden mayflower sailed from england across the large atlantic ocean. the mayflower carried 102 passengers, who would settle in america, the first group of settlers to emigrate to the new world. the passengers all had different reasons for taking part in this risky endeavor. some of them sought religious freedom, and others were sought to enhance their lives by moving to an unspoiled environment.
the passengers on the ship were all but comfortable. to ensure their safety, they needed to enclose themselves in the passenger area almost all of the time.
except for going on the deck every now and then, they lived, ate, and sleep all in one area. one shudders to envisage a hundred people all trapped in a room the size of a volleyball court. even if they were sick, there was nowhere quiet to go. most had to endure seasickness during the voyage, and many were weakened and had very little energy. the passengers would engage in conversation about their eminent arrival in the world.
i am sure that fear was the most prevalent emotion. although many were full of enthusiasm they did not know how the new lands would look or what type of dangers they might encounter. there were children on the ship, and their parents had to work hard to entertain them during the long, slow ship. it is said that many of the religious pilgrims would spend a lot of their time praying, they would emit prayers asking for someone to enlighten them, or asking for some entity to endow them with the strength needed for their new enterprise. the pilgrims also had very little fresh food. they brought cheese, dried fruit, ship’s biscuits, salted fish, salted pork, dried peas, dried beans, and rice.
many people also were on the ship because of work. many sailors ran the boat. this was no easy job, for high winds and rough seas make it difficult for the small ship to stay on course. many men would enroll with a company which would entitle them to a free ticket, if the men promised to work for them in america. they would sign a contract, which the company would enforce strictly. life was not easy for the people riding on the mayflower, but theirs was an epoch of discovery and adventure. sixty-six days later their ship arrived in plymouth harbor, and changed history.