Mr Monkey found another set of steps and slid down into the hold. Aboard the real ship, you could only go into the hold with permission from the quartermaster or the bosun. Mr Monkey suspected they didn't want the crew to get at the food and drink stored there. Beneath the hold is the bilge, filled with ballast to stabilise the ship. As Drake sailed around the world between 1577 and 1580, he replaced the ballast in the bilge with treasure acquired from from passing Spanish treasure ships.
Return to Mr Monkey aboard the Golden Hinde
Copyright Rik Shepherd and Mr Monkey.