Living Conditions
Living conditions aboard junks can be generally characterized as crowded and uncomfortable. Junks not only served as housing for the crew of sailors, but also their extended families. Parents, children, wives and children of married sons all cohabited the same space. Because the limited amount of resources, everyone onboard had to compete for space with the rats, fish, gear, food, drinking water, cargo, and baggage they brought with them. "While the captain occupied a small cabin at the rear of the vessel, sailors had to sleep in either poorly ventilated compartments below deck or exposed to the elements on deck. On pirate ships each member of the crew was allowed only a small berth of about four square feet where he slept and stowed his belongings." 17 Captives had even less space, with sleeping arrangements never more than eighteen inches wide and four feet long. The usual diet for a seafarer consisted of water and rice with some salted fish and dried vegetables. The menu rarely changed excepting occasions such as New Year's day and certain religious celebrations. On these days, they would consume fresh vegetables, fruit, pork, and poultry. On land, rats were specially raised as a delicacy for the wealthy. The poor, however, ate them in addition to whatever else they could find. On board, they were eaten along with any other catches when food was scarce.