Sentence:  This was a favourable circumstance in one respect to myself and the ship's company, for as Tuesday is a sumptuous day in point of allowance in the navy, beef and pudding being the prescribed fare for dinner, we by this accident feasted two days together; whereas had it occurred on a Monday, Wednesday, or Friday, two successive <WSD>banyan</WSD> (or starvation) <WSD>days</WSD> would have been our dismal portion. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  In British naval tradition, a day of the week when galley kitchens served no meat on board ship.