“The voyage had proved a human and financial disaster. Of the 198 men who rounded the Cape, only 25 returned alive. Worse still, two of the three ships had been lost and the one that did manage to limp into port was carrying not spices but scurvy. Lancaster had proved--if proof was needed--that the spice trade involved risks that London's merchants could ill afford. It was not until they learned that the Dutch had entered the spice race, and achieved a remarkable success, that they would consider financing a new expedition to the islands of the East Indies.” East IndiesSpice IslandsNutmeg Book:Nathaniel's Nutmeg: How One Man's Courage Changed the Course of History Source: Nathaniel's Nutmeg: How One Man's Courage Changed the Course of History