Why did Vasco da Gama's crew become ill?

Answer 1

Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese explorer, sailed round Africa to India in 1498. By the time he reached Mombasa, in East Africa, his crew was ill. Their hands and feet were swollen and their gums were growing over their teeth, so they could not eat the hard biscuit and salted meat carried on the ship.

They reached Mombasa on 6th April, where local traders sold them Oranges that the crew could just about manage to eat. By 12th April they had recovered.

a Explain why Vasco da Gama's crew had become ill.

b Why did the oranges improve things so quickly?

c Da Gama said the cure was due to the 'fine air' of Mombasa.

Suggest why he could have come to such a wrong conclusion.

d Citrus fruit was often prepared for a voyage by boiling it down in copper vats. Sailors still became ill, even after eating cooked citrus fruit. What does this information suggest to you about the effect of cooking citrus fruit?

A)His crew had become ill because they weren't supplied with sufficient food containing calcium for bones, proteins for repairing/growth and a lack of carbohydrates would mean nearly no energy.

B)Oranges contain Vitamin C which increases immunity meaning you can fight off diseases and colds. They also have iron and calcium resulting in healthy teeth and bones and the conversion of carbohydates.

C) He obviously did not know about the nutrients of such foods and had no other explanation.

D)By cooking the citrus, all the good things are boiled away and removed from it.