<P> However, the only contemporary account of events, William Bradford's History of Plymouth Plantation, records only that the pilgrims took "some" of the corn, to show to others back at the boat, leaving the rest . They later took what they needed from another store of grain, but paid the natives back in six months, and there was no resulting conflict . </P> <P> Also there was found more of their corn and of their beans of various colors; the corn and beans they brought away, purposing to give them full satisfaction when they should meet with any of them as, about some six months afterward they did, to their good content . </P> <P> During the winter, the passengers remained on board the Mayflower, suffering an outbreak of a contagious disease described as a mixture of scurvy, pneumonia, and tuberculosis . When it ended, only 53 passengers remained--just over half; half of the crew died, as well . In the spring, they built huts ashore, and the passengers disembarked from the Mayflower on March 21, 1621 . </P> <P> The settlers decided to mount "our great ordnances" on the hill overlooking the settlement in late February 1621, due to the fear of attack by the natives . Christopher Jones supervised the transportation of the "great guns"--about six iron cannons that ranged between four and eight feet (1.2 to 2.4 m) in length and weighed almost half a ton . The cannon were able to hurl iron balls 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) in diameter as far as 1,700 yards (1.5 km). This action made what was no more than a ramshackle village almost into a well - defended fortress . </P>

Where did the passengers sleep on the mayflower