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(hiss FlUl Book E*2-

THE HISTORY

BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA;

CONTAINING DETAILED ACCOUNTS OF THOSE

BOLD AND DARING FREEBOOTERS;

CHIEFLY ALONG THE

SPANISH MAIN, IN THE WEST INDIES,

AND IN THE GREAT SOUTH SEA.

SUCCEEDING THE CIVIL WARS IN ENGLAND.

NEW EDITION;

WITH SOME INTRODUCTORY NOTICES OF PIRACIES ON THE COAST OF NEW ENGLAND, TO THE YEAR 1724.

BOSTON: PUBLISHED BY BAZIN & ELLSWORTH,

No. 1 CORNHILL.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1851, by

OLIVER L. PERKINS,

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.

SM1

(

PREFACE

TO THE EDITION OF 1699.

It would be superfluous to say much by way of Preface to the following work, since a great part of it has some years ago been exposed to public view with a general applause ; and indeed the wondrous actions and daring adventures therein related, are such as could not but transport the most stupid minds into an admiration of them, though many times they were not attended with that justice and regularity that becomes civilized men, or men of any pretensions to morality; but be- cause we have here gathered up all that ever has been written in any language upon the subject of buccaneering, and that in a successive order down to the present time, [1700,] it will be necessary to enumerate the particulars thereof for the better information and satisfaction of the reader.

First, then, we have all the expeditions and exploits of the buccaneers of Jamaica and Tortuga, both English and French, set forth at large ; and more especially what was transacted under the conduct of Sir Henry Morgan, by sacking of Puerto Velo, burning of Panama, &c, in the West Indies, written originally in the Dutch tongue ; whereunto there are added the no less bold attempts and performances of men of the same stamp under the command of Captains Sharp, Sawkins, Coxon, and others, on the coasts of the South Seas; the whole being intermixed with vast variety of adventures and discoveries, and written by Mr. Basil Ringrose, who kept a journal of the said voyage, as being personally, present at all the transactions, and is said by Mr. Dampier to be very exact.

But let nobody be surprised that he doth not find both these relations printed verbatim, as in the former edition has been done, since the matter is much improved ; for whereas the style before was loose and uncouth in divers parts thereof, the same is now rectified, and made more correct, throughout the whole body of it, which cannot but add a new life and relish there- unto. And if this may be presumed upon, how much mora

PREFACE.

may be expected from the succeeding journal of a voyage made into the South Sea by the American Freebooters, com- mencing the year 1684, (about which time the other termi- nated,) and ending at 16S9, which was written in French by the Sieur Raveneau de Lussan, an ensign amongst them, and now first put into an English dress, and so consequently new to us ; and, indeed the particulars are all as novel as they are stupendous and amazing, that men should run such extreme hazards and hardships for money, and make such ill use of it when they have got it ; and, for my own part, I must ingen- uously confess, that since my first perusal I could never yet think of them without the greatest astonishment imaginable; especially seeing the whole contexture and narrative is so plain and simple, that to me it seems to carry an evidence of truth in every part of it.

I will not take upon me to apologize for many of the actions done, and here related, since even in the most regular troops and best disciplined armies, daily enormities are committed which the strictest vigilance cannot prevent. However, it is very remarkable, that in such a lawless body as these bucca- neers seem to be, in .respect to all others, that yet there should he such an economy (if I may so say) kept, and regularity prac- tised amongst themselves, so that every one seemed to have his property as much secured to himself, as if he had been a mem- ber of the most civilized community in the world ; though at the same time, when I consider of some of their laws, such as those against drunkenness and the like immoralities, I believe I have a great deal of reason to remain suspicious of their sincerity. •But, be these things as they will, a bolder race of men, both as to personal valor and conduct, certainly never yet appeared on the liquid element or dry land ; and I hope it will be taken neither for any affront nor a compliment to say, the English were always the leading and prevailing party amongst them.

What closes up the whole is an account of the adventures of Capt. Montauban on the coast of Africa, in the last years of the war between us and France, to whom, though the charac- ter of privateer doth more properly belong than that of buccaneer or freebooter, yet his actions, fight with the English guard ship, blowing up, strange escape, subsequent wanderings and haz- ards, are of so surprising a nature, rmd have so much likeness and affinity to the foregoing relations, that they could not with- out injustice to our design be omitted, and without which the whole would appear to be lame and imperfect.

INTRODUCTION.

It is very common at this day, and probably always was so, for even apparently thoughtful and considerate people to lament over the degenerate times in which they live, and to assert con- fidently that " the world is going on from bad to worse ;" but it is a great mistake to suppose this — nothing can be farther from the truth. The following treatise is sufficient to set every individual who shall peruse it, right on this question. If there be any who entertain doubts as to the propriety of making this class of works public, we say to them, " Read the following pages, and compare the state and transactions of the world at the times on which it treats with those of the present." If, when they have done this, they are not satisfied that the gen- eral character of mankind has been greatly ameliorated within the last three centuries, nothing, it is thought, would satisfy them of the fact.

Within the period just stated there has been a complete revolution of the seas. Sea-kings are no longer known or acknowledged. Their dark and dismal reign has passed away forever. But we need not go back to the times of the despe- rate and bloody Vikingr of the north ; it is only necessary to survey our own American coast within the space of two hun- dred years after its settlement by Europeans, to learn what terrors awaited all those who attempted voyages by sea.

INTRODUCTION.

In no very remote period, the European states were often glad to make the best terms they could with pirates, and mer- chants were subjected to heavy tribute when permitted to pursue their voyages. Pirates hovered upon every coast, and often sent challenges on shore to the kings of the countries. It is said to be no fable, that one of the dreaded sea rovers, while sweeping up and down the coast of England, sent to the king this bravado : — »

" Go tell the king of England, go tell him thus from me. Though he reigns king o'er all the land, I will reign king at sea."

Those rovers went sometimes in considerable fleets, and it was very common for one piratical fleet to attack another. Such fights often resulted in the entire destruction of the vanquished party. Sometimes one would chase another into the very ha'rbor of a populous place, to the great terror of its inhab- itants, and there carry on their bloody work.

To judge of the actors of those times, their barbarous con- dition must be considered. They bore as fair a relation to the civilization of their times as the rougher part of the commu- nity of later days do to theirs. For a long period Scandina- via was the nursery of Sea-kings, in other words, pirates ; it was a period when the law of nations was the law of the strongest ; an age when every male child was born for war as surely as he arrived at an age to enable him to wield a battle- axe ; an age when it was thought the most inglorious thing that could happen to a man was not to die in war. War was the great and grand business of life.

Coming down to a later period, the sixteenth century, some- thing of that fierceness had worn away ; civilization had spread its influence far into the north, and though pirates infested every sea where commerce was found, yet they had gradually lost their preeminence on the ocean. Those who retaliated for theii

INTRODUCTION. > 7

losses were not considered pirates, though those who suffered from retaliation had often no hand in the cause of such reprisal. This relict of the ancient Vikingr disgraces the annals of our own times ; the hand of friendship is to this hour extended to those who have made themselves rich by their robberies on the ocean ; they even fill places of honor and profit as a reward for their crimes — crimes they are, though sanctioned by law, as much so as though they had happened in another age, and even more.

The stories of the pirates that have infested the American seas, since the time of Capt. William Kidd, would make a large volume, and one of exceeding great interest. We have space to advert to but few of them. In the year 1689, two noted pirates, Thomas Hawkins and Thomas Ponnd, cruised upon the coast of New England, and committed many depredations with great boldness. The colony of Massachusetts Bay came to the determination to attempt their capture, and accordingly fitted out a sloop called the Mary, Samuel Pease com- mander, which sailed on the 4th of October of that year. Having received information that the piratical vessel was in or about Tarpaulin Cove, Capt. Pease made for that harbor. When off Wood's Hole he had certain intelligence of the ob- ject of his search, and making all the, sail he could, he soon found himself within hailing distance of the outlaw. When he was ordered to heave to, the pirate ran up a red flag, where- upon Pease fired a shot athwart his forefoot, and ordered him to strike his colors. As the Mary came down upon him, she sent another shot under his forefoot, and again ordered him to strike ; but Pound, stationed upon his quarterdeck, brandished his naked sword, bid them " Come on, you dogs, and I will strike you!" Meantime, his men standing ready with their guns pointed, discharged a volley upon the Mary, whose men returned it in earnest. The fight, thus commenced, for some

8 INTRODUCTION.

time raged fiercely, no quarter being expected on either side. At length, laying the pirate on board, Capt. Pease compelled him to strike, though not till himself had received many wounds, and several of his men were wounded also ; but how many, our accounts do not state, nor what damage the pirates received before they surrendered. But the conquest was dearly bought by the victors, as the wounds of Capt. Pease proved mortal five days after the battle.

For the next quarter of a century and more, the records of our admiralty courts are full of trials of pirates, with the most revolting accounts of their cruelties, and their executions. The following will probably be read with much interest, as it brings to our notice the immediate ancestor of our present chief magistrate of the United States, who, being taken by a pirate, effected his own deliverance in the most heroic and extraordi- nary manner.

Every body has probably read of a noted pirate of the name of Phillips, who, for some time previous to 1724, roved where he listed, making spoil where he could, and shedding innocent blood as it were for sport. At the same time there was living at Ipswich, in the colony of Massachusetts Bay, a certain John Fillmore, aged twenty-one years, he having been born in the year 1702. His father, also named John, had followed the seas, but had died in the West Indies several years before his son's majority, from the effects of cruel treatment while a' prisoner there with the French. John Fillmore, the son, ship* ped on a fishing voyage for the Grand Banks, in the sloop Dolphin of Cape Ann, Mark Haskell skipper, in the spring of 1723. Having pursued their business of fishing till the au- tumn of the same year, Haskell and his company were fallen in with by Phillips, and all made prisoners. Plunder was not the object of their capture, but men to join the pirates in their nefarious enterprises. It was soon apparent that they intended

INTRODUCTION.

to take only such of the fishermen as were stoat and able- bodied. Accordingly, Fillmore was made choice of, and his captain was ordered to send him on board. There was no alternative, and Fillmore was compelled to join the pirates, though to their sad cost, as in the sequel will appear.

" When I first went on board the pirate," says Fillmore, ' their crew consisted of ten men, including the captain, and the whole of them, I think, as stout, hardy-looking fellows as ever I saw together." The great reluctance which Fillmore dis- covered on entering the service of his new master caused Phillips to promise him his liberty if he would serve him faithfully two months. He was probably as sincere, when he made this promise, as Fillmore was in his intention of serving him faith- fully. The two months soon ran away, and little or no booty fell into the pirate's hands, which caused him to treat his men roughly ; and when at the end of that time Fillmore reminded him of his promise, he said upon his honor he would let him go after three months more. As before, there was no escape, and he submitted to his fate as well as he could. But the next three months were as unprofitable as the preceding two, only the pirate made an accession to his crew of several able men, whom, from time to time he had, as in the case of Fillmore, forced from other vessels into his service. At or near the expiration of seven months, they took a merchant ship, Capt. Harridon, of Boston, returning from a voyage to the West Indies. Har- ridon was a young man, only about twenty-two years of age.

Meantime, when Fillmore ventured again to claim his liber- ty, the pirate captain sneered a most fiendish grin, and among unutterable oaths roared out, " Set you at liberty ! Damn ye — yoiCll be set at liberty when Fm damned, and not before! "

Phillips's rage was heightened against Fillmore, because the latter had all along refused to sign the ship's piratical articles. The others of the forced crew who had not signed them were

10 INTRODUCTION.

Capt. Harridon, James Cheesman, a ship carpenter, and a Spanish Indian, who was taken with Harridon. Seeing now that he had no chance of escape left, or not until his captain was " damned," as he himself expressed it, he was not long in making up his mind to have him put into that state whenever it could be attempted with a slight prospect of success.

So tyrannical had Phillips become, that even his own regular pirates hated him, and the more so, as they knew he had not a shadow of honor, and they had daily evidences of his bad faith even with them. About this time he put one of his men on board a prize, and ordered him to keep company. This man attempted to escape with the prize, but being overtaken by Phillips, he surrendered on assurances of good quarter. But as soon as he reached the deck of the pirate ship, Phillips run him through with his sword.

So watchful and jealous were Phillips and his companions, that it was with much difficulty and extreme hazard that Fill- more and his few friends, Cheesman, Harridon and the Indian, could form a plan for the effecting of their design. At length, however, after about nine months' captivity, a plan was laid and successfully carried into execution. But not long before its maturity, the authors were suspected by Phillips, and one of their company was in the most barbarous manner put to death by him by running him through the body with his sword, as he had his brother pirate before mentioned. This man, thus cold-bloodedly murdered (whose name is not mentioned) be- longed to New England, and what aggravates his case is the fact, that he knew nothing of the conspiracy. Fillmore and the others intended to enlist him in it. but had not yet found a suitable opportunity. He also suspected Fillmore, and attempted his life by snapping his pistol against his breast, which missed fire. It however went off on the second attempt, which was immediately made ; but Fillmore at the moment of

INTRODUCTION. 11

the discharge struck the pistol so much aside that its contents missed him. For some unexplained or unexplainable cause the miirderer made no further attempt upon his life, but a damned him, and bid him go about his biisiness."

It was not long after this that the pirates had a carousal, some of them got beastly drunk, and all got exhausted, and this was an opportunity not to be lost. The day before, Chees- mao, the carpenter, had been ordered to make some repairs on deck, and he took care to leave his broadaxe and other tools there. In the dead of night, when the carousal had ceased, all things were arranged. Fillmore was to split out the brains of Capt. Phillips, Cheesman was to seize the master and throw him headlong into the sea, the Indian was to stand ready to act according to circumstances, while Harridon was so overcome with fear that nothing was allotted to him to perform in the tragedy. And although the Indian stood to the post assigned him, yet, as Fillmore in his narrative expresses it, he was so terrified that " he became near as white as any of us." And, as to himself, he says, that as he stood ready to seize the broad- axe, "his knees fairly smote together."

The pirate crew seems now to have consisted of ten men, and none«can wonder that trepidation should seize upon the three that were to attack them. The three chief pirates were on deck at about twelve o'clock in the day — that day which was to seal the destiny of one or the other party. The fatal moment having arrived, Cheesman seized his man, and at the same breath Fillmore brought down the broadaxe upon the head of the boatswain, splitting it in twain ; and before Phillips could draw his sword, the axe fell upon his head also.

The quartermaster was in the cabin, who, hearing the bustle, rushed out upon Cheesman and was prevented dealing a deadly blow upon him by the Indian, who was stationed at the com- panionway. He seized him by the arms, and in a moment

12 INTRODUCTION.

more, Fillmore, with another blow of his broadaxe, nearly sev- ered his head from his body. The rest of the crew surren- dered at discretion, and with the captured vessel the victors arrived in Boston on the 3d of May, 1724.

Such was the end of the piratical enterprise of the famous and much dreaded Capt. John Phillips. Three of the pirates were tried, condemned and executed, and hung in chains on Bird Island, in Boston harbor. The other three, with the ship, were sent to England, with whom went Cheesman and the Indian also. The three pirates were soon after hung at Exe- cution Dock, and Cheesman and the Indian were suitably rewarded.

It will be interesting, probably, to the reader to learn, that the John Fillmore, who was so conspicuous in the desperate enterprise here related, was the great-grandfather of Millard Fillmore, President of the United States.

THE

BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA.

CHAPTER I.

The Introduction. — The Author * sets forth for the Western Islands, in the Service of the West India Company of France. — They meet with an English Frigate, and arrive at the Island of Tortuga.

As the Buccaneers in the West Indies have been so formi- dable, and numerous that they have interrupted the trade of Europe into those parts, and our English merchants, in partic- ular, have suffered more by their depredations than by the united force of France and Spain, in the late war, we do not doubt but the world will be curious to know the origin and progress of these desperadoes, who were the terror of the trad- ing part of the world.

But before we enter upon their particular history, it will not be amiss, by way of introduction, to show, by some examples drawn from history, the great mischief and danger which threaten kingdoms and commonwealths from the increase of these sort of robbers ; when, either by the troubles of particular times, or the neglect of governments, they are not crushed be- fore they gather strength. •

It has been the case heretofore, that when a single pirate has been suffered to range the seas, as not being worth the notice of a government, he has by degrees grown so powerful, as to put them to. the expense of a great deal of blood and treasure, before he was suppressed. We shall not examine how it came to pass that our Buccaneers in the West Indies have continually increased till of late. This is an inquiry which belongs to the legislature.

I shall therefore speak of the pirates infesting the West In-

* Joseph Esquemeling, in company with Le Grand, Lolonois, Roche Brasi- lino, Bat, the Portuguese, &c.

2

14 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA.

dies, where they are more numerous than in any other part of the world, oh several reasons.

First. Because there are so many uninhabited little islands and keys, with harbors convenient and secure for cleaning their vessels, and abounding with what they often want, provis- ion : I mean water, sea-fowl, turtle, shell and other fish ; where, if they carry in but strong liquor, they indulge a time, and be- come ready for new expeditions, before any intelligence can reach to hurt them.

It may here, perhaps, be no unnecessary digression to explain what they call keys in the West Indies. These are small sandy islands, appearing a little above the surface of the water, with only a few bushes or weeds upon them, but abound (those most at any distance from the main) with turtle, amphibious ani- mals, that always choose the quietest and most unfrequented place for laying their eggs, which are to a vast number in the seasons, and would seldom be seen, but for this, (except by pirates.) Then vessels from Jamaica and the other govern- ments make voyages, called turtling, for supplying the people ; a common and approved food with them. I am apt to think these keys, especially those nigh islands, to have been' once contiguous with them, and separated by earthquakes (frequently there) or inundations; because some of them that have been within continual view, as those nigh Jamaica, are observed within our time to be entirely wasted away and lost, and others daily wasting. They are not only of the use above taken notice of to pirates, but, it is commonly believed, were always, in buccaneering, piratical times, the hiding-places for their riches, and oftentimes a shelter for themselves, till their friends on the main had found means to obtain indemnity for their crimes ; for you must understand, when acts of grace were more frequent, and the laws less severe, these men continually found favors and encouragers at Jamaica, and perhaps they are not all dead yet. I have been told many of them, still living. have been of the same trade, and left, it off only because they can live as well honestly, and gain now at the hazard of others' necks.

Second. Another reason why these seas are chose by pirates is the great commerce thither by French, Spaniards, Dutch, and especially English ships. Thry are sure, in the latitude of these trading islands, to meet with prizes, booties of provis- ion, clothing, and naval stores, and sometimes money ; there being great sums remitted this way to England ; (the re- turns of the Assiento, and private slave-trade to the Spanish West Indies;) and, in short, by some one or other, all the riches of Potosi.

THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 15

A third reason is the inconvenience and difficulty of being pursued by the men-of-war ; the many small inlets, lagoons, and harbors, on these solitary islands and keys, are a natural security.

It is generally here that the pirates begin their enterprises, setting out at first with a very small force ; and, by infesting these seas, and those of the continent of North America, in a year's time, if they have good luck on their sides, they accu- mulate such strength as enables them to make foreign expedi- tions. The first is usually to Guinea, taking the Azores and Cape de Verd Islands in their way, and then to Brazil and the East Indies, where, if they meet with prosperous voyages, they set down at Madagascar, or the neighboring islands, and enjoy their ill-gotten wealth, among their elder brethren, with impu- nity. But that I may not give too much encouragement to the profession, I must inform my maritime readers that the far greater part of these rovers' are cut short in the pursuit, by a sudden precipitation into the other world.

The rise of these rovers, since the peace of Utrecht, or, at least, the great increase of them, may justly be imputed to the Spanish settlements in the West Indies, the governors of which, being often some hungry courtiers, sent thither to re- pair or make a fortune, generally countenance all proceedings that bring in profit. They grant commissions to great num- bers of vessels of war, on pretence of preventing an interloping trade, with orders to seize all ships or vessels whatsoever, within five leagues of their coasts, which our 'English ships cannot well avoid coming, in their voyage to Jamaica. But if the Spanish captains chance to exceed this commission, and rob and plunder at discretion, the sufferers are allowed to complain, and exhibit a process in their court, and, after great expense of suit, delay of time, and other inconveniences, obtain a decree in their favor ; but then, when the ship and cargo come to be claimed, with costs of suit, they find, to their sorrow, that it has been previously condemned, and the plunder divided among the crew. The commander that made the capture, who alone is responsible, is found to be a poor, rascally fellow, not worth a groat, and, no doubt, is placed in that station for the like purposes.

The frequent losses sustained by our merchants abroad, by these pirates, was provocation enough to attempt something by way of reprisal ; and a fair opportunity offering itself in the year 1716, the traders to the West Indies took care not to slip it over, but made the best use of it their circumstances would permit.

16 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA.

I

It was about two years before, that the Spanish galleons, or Plate fleet, had been cast away in the Gulf of Florida ; and several vessels from the Havana were at work, with diving en- gines, to fish up the silver that was on board the galleons.

The Spaniards had recovered some millions of dollars, or pieces of eight, and had carried it all to the Havana ; but they had at present about three hundred and fifty thousand pieces of eight, then, upon the spot, and were daily taking up more. In the mean time, two ships and three sloops, fitted out from Jamaica, Barbadoes, &c., under Captain Henry Jennings, sailed to the gulf, and found the Spaniards there upon the wreck ; the money before spoken of was left on shore, deposited in a store- house, under the government of two commissaries, and a guard of about sixty soldiers.

The rovers came directly upon the place, bringing their little fleet to an anchor, and, in a word, landing three hundred men, they attacked the guard, who immediately ran away ; and thus they seized the treasure, which they carried off, making the best of their way to Jamaica.

In their way, they unhappily met with a Spanish ship, bound from Porto Bello to the Havana, with a great many rich goods, viz., bales of cochineal, casks of indigo, and sixty thousand pieces of eight more, which, their hands being in, they took, and having rifled the vessel, let her go.

They went away to Jamaica with their booty, and were fol- lowed in view of the port by the Spaniards, who, having seen them thither, went back to the governor of the Havana, with the account of it, who immediately sent a vessel to the gov- ernor of Jamaica, to complain of this robbery, and to reclaim the goods.

As it was in full peace, and contrary to all justice and right, that this fact was committed, they were soon made sensible that the government at Jamaica would not suffer them to go 'unpunished, much less protect them. Therefore they saw a necessity of shifting for themselves ; so, to make bad worse, they went to sea again, though not without disposing of their cargo to good advantage, and furnishing themselves with am- munition, provisions, &c. ; and being thus made desperate, they turned pirates, robbing not the Spaniards only, but their own countrymen, and any nation they could lay their hands on.

It happened about this time that the Spaniards, with three or four small men-of-war, fell upon our logwood-cutters in the Bay of Campeachy and Honduras; and after they had made them prizes, they gave the men belonging to them three sloops, to carry them home : but these men, being made desperate by

THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 17

their misfortunes, and meeting with the pirates, they took on with them, and so increased their number.

Not to detain the reader any longer with these particulars, I shall proceed to give an account of our voyage from Havre de Grace, in France, from whence we set sail in a ship called St. John, May 2, 1666. Our vessel was equipped with twenty- eight guns, twenty mariners, and two hundred and twenty passengers, including those whom the Company sent as free passengers. Soon after we came to an anchor under the Cape of Barfleur, there to join seven other ships of the same West India Company, which were to come from Diep, under convoy of a man-of-war, mounted with thirty-seven guns, and two hundred and fifty men. Of these ships, two were bound for Senegal, five for the Caribbee Islands, and ours for Tortuga. Here gathered to us about twenty sail of other ships, bound for Newfoundland, with some Dutch vessels going for Nantz, Ro- chelle, and St. Martin's, so that in all we made thirty sail. Here we put ourselves in a posture of defence, having notice that four English frigates, of sixty guns each, waited for us near Aldernay. Our admiral, the Chevalier Sourdis, having given necessary orders, we sailed thence with a favorable gale, and some mists arising, totally impeded the English frigates from discovering our fleet. We steered our course as near as we could to the coast of France, for fear of the enemy. As we sailed along, we met a vessel of Ostend, who complained to our admiral that a French privateer had robbed hi in that very morning ; whereupon, we endeavored to pursue the said pirate ; but our labor was in vain, not being able to overtake him.

Our fleet, as we sailed, caused no small fears and alarms to the inhabitants of the coasts of France, these judging us to be English, and that we sought some convenient place for land- ing. To allay their fright, we hung out our colors ; but they would not trust us. After this, we came to an anchor in the Bay of Conquet, m Brittany, near Ushent, there to take in water. Having stored ourselves with fresh provisions here, we prosecuted our voyage, designing to pass by the Ras of Fon- tenau, and not expose ourselves to the Sorlingues, fearing the English that were cruising thereabouts. This River Ras is of a current very strong and rapid, which, rolling over many rocks, disgorges itself into the sea, on the coast of France, in 48° 10' latitude ; so that this passage is very dangerous, all the rocks, as yet, being not thoroughly known.

Here I shall mention the ceremony which, at this passage, and some other places, is used by the mariners, and by them called baptism, though it may seem little to our purpose. The 2*

18 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA.

master's mate clothed himself with a ridiculous sort of garment, that reached to his feet, and on his head he put a suitable cap, made very burlesque ; in his right hand he had a naked wooden sword, and in his left a pot full of ink. His face was horribly blacked with soot, and his neck adorned with a collar, of many little pieces of wood. Thus apparelled, he commanded every one to be called who had never passed through that dangerous place before ; and then causing them to kneel down, he made the sign of the cross on their foreheads with ink, and gave every one a stroke on the shoulders with his wooden sword. Meanwhile the bystanders cast a bucket of water upon each man's head, and so ended the ceremony. But that done, each of the bap- tized must give a bottle of brandy, placing it nigh the main- mast, without speaking a word — even those who have no such liquor not being excused. .If the vessel never passed that way before, the captain is obliged to distribute some wine among the mariners and passengers ; but, as for other gifts, which the newly-baptized frequently offer, they are divided among the old seamen, and of them they make a banquet among them- selves.

The Hollanders, likewise, not only at this passage, but also at the rocks called Berlingues, nigh the coast of Portugal, in 39° 40', (being a passage very dangerous, especially by night, when, in the dark, the rocks are not distinguishable, the land being very high,) they use some such ceremony, but their man- ner of baptizing is very different from that of the French ; for he that is to be baptized is fastened, and hoisted up thrice at the. main-yard's end, as if he were a criminal. If he be hoisted the fourth time, in the name of the Prince of Orange, or of the captain of the vessel, his honor is more than ordi- nary. Thus every one is dipped several times in the main ocean ; but he that is dipped first has the honor of being sa- luted with a gun. Such as are not willing to fall must pay twelve pence for ransom ; if he be an officer, two shillings ; and if a passenger, at their own pleasure. If the ship never passed that way before, the captain is to give a small runlet of wine, which, if he denies, the- mariners may cut off the stem of the vessel. All the profit accruing by this cere- mony is kept by the masters mate, avIio, after reaching their port, usually lays it out in wine, which is drank amongst the ancient seamen. Some say this ceremony was instituted by the Emperor Charles V., though it is not amongst his laws. But here I leave these sea customs, and return to our voyage.

Having passed the Ras, we had very good weather, till we came to Cape Finisterre ; here a sudden tempest surprised

THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 19

us, and separated our ship from the rest that were in our com- pany. This storm continued eight days, in which time it would move compassion to see how miserably the passengers were tumbled to and fro, on all sides of the ship ; inso- much, that the mariners, in .the performance of their duty, were compelled to tread upon them. ' This boisterous weather being over, we had very favorable gales again, till we came to the tropic of Cancer. This tropic is an imaginary cir- cle which astronomers have invented in the heavens, lim- iting the progress of the sun towards the north pole. It is placed in latitude 23° 30'. Here we were baptized a second time, as before. The French always perform this ceremony at the tropic of Cancer, as also under the tropic of Capricorn. In this part of the world we had very favorable weather, at which we were very glad, because 0/ our great want of water ; for that element was so scarce with us. that we were stinted to two half pints a man, every day.

About the latitude of Barbadoes, we met an English frigate, or privateer, who first began to give us chase ; but finding her- self not to exceed us in force, presently got away. Hereupon, we pursued her, firing several guns, eight pounders, at her ; but at length she escaped, and we returned to our course. Soon after, we came within sight of Martinico. We were bent to the coast of the Isle of St. Peter, but were frustrated by a storm which took us hereabouts. Hence we resolved to steer to Guadalupe, yet we could not reach this island, by reason of the said storm ; so that we directed our course to the Isle of Tortuga, being the very same land we were bound to. We passed along the coast of Punta Rica, which is extremely agreeable and delightful to the sight, being adorned with beauti- ful woods, even to the tops of the mountains. Then we discov- ered Hispaniola, (of which I shall give a description,) and we coasted about it till we came to Tortuga, our desired port. Here we anchored July 7, in the same year, not having lost one man in the voyage. We landed the goods that belonged to the West India Company, and, soon after, the ship was sent to Cal de Sac, with some passengers.

20 * THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA.

CHAPTER II.

*

A. Description of Tortuga, and of the Fruits and Plants there. — TIow the French first settled there, at two several Times, and forced out the Spaniards. — The Author twice sold in the said Island.

The Island of Tortuga is situate on the north side of His.- paniola, in latitude 20° 30'. Its just extent is threescore leagues about. The Spaniards, who gave name to this island, called it so from the shape1 of the land, in some manner resembling a great sea-tortoise, called by them Tortuga-de-mar. The coun- try is very mountainous, and full of rocks, and yet thick of lofty trees, that grow upon the hardest of those rocks, without partaking of a softer soil. w Hence it comes that their roots, for the greatest part, are seen naked, entangled among the rocks like the branching of ivy against our walls. That part of this island which stretches to the north is totally uninhabited. The reason is, first, because it is incommodious and unhealthy; and, secondly, for the ruggedness of the coast, that gives no access to the shore, unless among rocks almost inaccessible. For this cause, it is peopled only on the south part, which has only one port, indifferently good. Yet this harbor has two en- tries, or channels, which afford passage to ships of seventy guns, the port itself being without danger, and capable of re- ceiving a great number of vessels. The inhabited parts, of which the first is called the Lowlands, or Low Country; this is the chief among the rest, because it contains the port afore- said. The town is called Cayona, and here live the chiefest and richest planters of the island. The second part is called the Middle Plantation ; its soil is yet almost new, being only known to be good for tobacco. The third is named Ringot, and is situate towards the west part of the island. The fourth, and last, is called the Mountain, in which place were made the first plantations upon this island.

As to the wood that grows here, we have already said that the trees are exceedingly tall, and pleasing toihe sight, whence no man will doubt but they may be applied to several uses. Such is the yellow saunder, which by the inhabitants is called bois de chandelyOT, in English, candle-wood, because it burns like a candle, and serves them with light while they fish by night. Here grows, also, Lignum Sanctilm, or Guaiacum. Its virtues are very well known, more especially to those who observe not the seventh commandment, and are given to im- pure copulations! — physicians drawing hence, in several com-

THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 21

positions, the greatest antidote for venereal diseases, as also for cold and viscous humors. The trees, likewise, which afford gum-mi elemi, grow here in great abundance, as doth radix Chi- na, or China root. Yet this is not so good as that of other parts of the western world. It is very white and soft, and serves for pleasant, food to the wild boars, when they can find nothing else. This island, also, is not deficient in aloes, nor an infi- nite number of the other medicinal herbs, which may please the curiosity of such as are given to their contemplation. Moreover, for building of ships, or any other sort of architect- ure, here are found several sorts of timber. The fruits, like- wise, which grow here abundantly, are nothing inferior, in quantity or quality, to what other islands produce. I shall name only some of the most ordinary and common. Such are magniot, potatoes, abajou apples, yannas, bacones, paquays, ca- rosoles, mamayns, annananes, and divers other sorts, which I omit to specify. Here grow, likewise, in great numbers, those trees called palmettoes or palmites, whence is drawn a certain juice, which serves the inhabitants instead of wine, and whose leaves cover their houses, instead of tiles.

In this island aboundeth, also, the wild boar. The governor hath prohibited the hunting of them with dogs, fearing lest, the island being but small, the whole race of them, in a short time, should be destroyed. The reason why he thought con- venient to preserve these wild beasts, was, that, i'n case of any invasion, the inhabitants might sustain themselves with their food, especially were they once constrained to retire to the woods and mountains. Yet this sort of game is almost impeded by itself, by reason of the many rocks and precipices, which, for the greatest part, are covered with little shrubs, very green, and thick, whence the huntsmen have oftentimes fallen, and left us the sad remembrance of many a memorable disaster.

At a certain time of the year there resort to Tortuga large flocks of wild pigeons, and then the inhabitants feed on them very plentifully, having more than they can consume, and leaving totally to their repose all other sorts of fowl, both wild and tame ; that so, in the absence of the pigeons, these may supply their place. But as nothing in the universe, though never so pleasant, can be found, but what hath something of bitterness with it, the very symbol of this truth we see in the aforesaid pigeons ; for these, the season being past, can • scarce be touched with the tongue, they become so extremely lean, and bitter, even to admiration. The reason of this bit- terness is attributed to a certain seed, which they eat about that time, even as bitter as gall. About the sea-shores, every

22 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA.

where, are found great multitudes of crabs, both of laud and sea, and both sorts very big. These are good to feed servants and slaves, whose palates they please, but are very hurtful to the sight ; besides, being eaten too often, they cause great gid- diness in the head, with much weakness of the brain, so that, very frequently, they are deprived of sight for a quarter of an hour.

The French, having settled in the Isle of St. Christopher, planted there a sort of trees, of which, at present, there pos- sibly may be greater quantities, with the timber whereof they made longboats and hoys, which they sent thence westward, well manned and victualled, to discover other islands. These, setting sail from St. Christopher, came within sight of His- paniola, where they arrived with abundance of joy. Having landed, they marched into the country, where they found large quantities of cattle, such as cows, bulls, horses, and wild boars ; but finding no great profit in these animals, unless they could enclose them, and knowing, likewise, the island to be pretty well peopled by the Spaniards, they thought it convenient to enter upon and seize the Island of Tortuga. This they per- formed without any difficulty, there being upon the island no more than ten or twelve Spaniards to guard it. These few men let the French come in peaceably, and possess the island for six months, without any trouble. Meanwhile, they passed and repassed, with their canoes, to Hispaniola, from whence they transported many people, and at last began to plant the whole Island of Tortuga. The few Spaniards remaining there, perceiving the French to increase their number daily, began at last to repine at their prosperity, and grudge them the possession. Hence they gave notice to others of their nation, their neighbors, who sent several boats, well armed and manned, to dispossess the French. This expedition succeeded accord- ing to their desires ; for the new possessors, seeing the great number of Spaniards, fled, with all they had, to the woods, and hence, by night, they wafted over with canoes to the Island of Hispaniola. This they the more easily performed, having no women or children with them, nor any great substance to carry away. Here they also retire into the woods, both to seek for food, and from thence, with secrecy, to give intelligence to others of their own faction ; judging for certain, that within a little while they should be in a capacity to hinder the Span- iards from fortifying in Tortuga.

Meanwhile, the Spaniards of the great island ceased not to seek after their new guests, the French, with intent to root them out of the woods, if possible, or cause them to perish

THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 23

with hunger; but this design soon failed, having found that the French were masters both of good guns, powder, and bul- lets. Here, therefore, the fugitives waited, for a certain oppor- tunity, wherein they knew the Spaniards were to come from Tortuga, with arms and a great number of men, to join with those of the greater island, for their destruction. When this occasion offered, they, in the mean while deserting the woods where they were, returned to Tortuga, and dispossessed the small number of Spaniards that remained at home. Having so done, they fortified themselves the best they could, thereby to prevent the return of the Spaniards, in case they should attempt it. Moreover, they sent immediately to the governor of St. Christopher's, craving his aid and relief, and demanding of him a governor, the better to be united among themselves, and strengthened on all occasions. The governor of St. Christopher's received their petition with much satisfaction, and, without delay, sent Monsieur Le Passeur to them, in qual- ity of a governor, together with a ship full of men, and all necessaries for their establishment and defence. No sooner had they received this recruit, but the governor commanded a fortress to be built upon the top of a high rock, from whence he could hitider the entrance of any ships, or other vessels, to the port. To this fort no other access could be had, than by almost climbing through a very narrow passage, that was ca- pable only of receiving two persons at once, and those not without difficulty. In the middle of this rock was a great cav- ity, which now serves for a storehouse. Besides, here was great convenience for raising a battery. The fort being fin- ished, the governor commanded two guns to be mounted, which could not be done without great toil and labor; as, also, a house to be built within the fort ; and afterwards the narrow way, that led to the said fort, to be broken and demolished, leaving no other ascent thereto than by a ladder. Within the fort gushes out a plentiful fountain of pure fresh water, suffi- cient to refresh a garrison of a thousand men. Being possessed of these conveniences, and the security these things might promise, the French began to people the island, and each of them to seek their living, some by hunting, others by planting tobacco, and others by cruisin'g, and robbing upon the coasts of the Spanish islands, which trade is continued by them to this day.

The Spaniards, notwithstanding, could not behold, but with jealous eyes, the daily increase of the French in Tortuga, fear- ing lest, in time, they might by them be dispossessed also of Hispaniola. Thus taking an opportunity, (when many of the

24 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA.

French were abroad at sea, and others employed in hunting,) with eight hundred men, in several canoes, they landed again in Tortuga, almost without being perceived by the French ; but finding that the governor had cut down many trees, for the better discovery of any enemy, in case of an assault, as also that nothing of consequence could be done without great guns, they consulted about the fittest place for raising a battery. This place was soon concluded to be the top of a mountain which was in sight, seeing that from thence alone they could level their guns at the fort, which now lay open to them since the cutting down of the trees by the new possessors. Hence they resolved to open a way for the carriage of some pieces of ordnance to the top. This mountain is somewhat high, and the upper part thereof plain, from whence the whole island may be viewed. The sides thereof are very rugged, by reason a great number of inaccessible rocks do surround it ; so that the ascent was very difficult, and would always have been the same, had not the Spaniards undergone the immense labor and toil of making the way before mentioned, as I shall now re- late.

The Spaniards had with them many slaves and Indians, laboring men, whom they call matades, or, in English, half- yellow men. These they ordered with iron tools to dig a way through the rocks. This they performed with the greatest speed imaginable, and through this way, by the help of many ropes and pullies, they at last made shift to get up two pieces of ordnance, wherewith they made a battery next day, to play . on the fort. Meanwhile the French, knowing these designs, prepared for a defence, (while the Spaniards were busy about the battery,) sending notice every where to their companions, for help. Thus the hunters of the island all joined together, and with them all the pirates, who were not already too far from home. These landed by night at Tortuga, lest they should be seen by the Spaniards ; and under the same obscurity of the night, they all together, by a back way, climbed the mountain where the Spaniards were posted, which they did the more easily, being acquainted with these rocks. They came up at the very instant that the Spaniards, who were above, were preparing to shoot at the fort, not knowing in the least of their coming. Here they set upon them at their backs, with such fury, as forced the greatest part to precipitate themselves from the top to the bottom, and dash their bodies in pieces. Few or none escaped ; for if any remained alive, they were put to the sword. Some Spaniards did still keep the bottom of the mountain ; but these, hearing the shrieks

THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 25

and cries of them that were killed, and believing some tragical revolution to be above, fi^d immediately towards the sea, .de- spairing ever to regain the Island of Tortuga.

The governors of this island behaved themselves as propri- etors, and absolute lords thereof, till 1664, when the West In- dia Company of France took possession thereof, and sent thither, for their governor, Monsieur Ogeron. These planted the colony for themselves by their factors and servants, think- ing to drive some considerable trade from thence with the Spaniards, even as the Hollanders do from Curasao. But this design did not answer; for with other nations they could drive no trade, by reason they could not establish any secure com- merce, from the beginning, with their own ; forasmuch as, at the first institution of this company in France, they agreed with the pirates, hunters, and planters, first possessors of Tor- tuga, that these should buy all their necessaries from the said company upon trust. And though this agreement was put in execution, yet the factors of the company soon after found that they could not recover either moneys or returns from those people, that they were constrained to bring some armed men into the island, in behalf of the company, to get in some of their payments. But neither this endeavor, nor any other, could prevail towards the settling a second trade with those of the island. Hereupon the company recalled their factors, giv- ing them orders to sell all that was their own, in the said plan- tation, both the servants belonging to the company, (which were sold, some for twenty, others for thirty pieces of eight,) as also all other merchandises and properties. And thus all their designs fell to the ground.

On this occasion I was also sold, being a servant under the said company, in whose service 1 left France. But my fortune was very bad, for I fell into the hands of the most cruel and perfidious man that ever was born, who was then governor, or rather lieutenant-general, of that island. This man treated me with all the hard usage imaginable, yea, with that of hunger, with which I thought I should have perished inevitably. Withal, he was willing to let me buy my freedom and liberty, but not under the rate of three hundred pieces of eight, I not being master of one at a time in the world. At last, through the manifold miseries I endured, as also affliction of mind, I was thrown into a dangerous sickness. This misfortune, added to the rest, was the cause of my happiness ; for my wicked master, seeing my condition, began to fear lest he should lose his moneys with my life. Hereupon he sold me a second time to a surgeon, for seventy pieces of eight. Being with this sec-

26 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA.

ond master, I began soon to recover my health, through the good usage I received, he being much more humane and civil than my first patron. He gave me both clothes and very good food, and after I had served him but one year, he offered me my lib- erty, with only this condition, that I should pay him one hun- dred pieces of eight, when I was in a capacity so to do, which kind proposal of his I could not but accept with infinite joy and gratitude.

Being now at liberty, though like Adam when he was first created, that is, naked and destitute of all human necessaries, not knowing how to get my living, I determined to enter into the order of the pirates or robbers at sea. Into this society I was received with common consent, both of the superior and vulgar sort, where I continued till 1672. Having assisted them in all their designs and attempts, and served them in many notable exploits, of which, hereafter, I shall give the reader a true account, I returned to my own native country. But before I begin my relation, I shall say something of the Island of Hispaniola, which lies towards the western part of America, as also give my reader a brief description thereof, ac- cording to my slender ability and experience.

CHAPTER III.

A Description of Hispaniola.

The large and rich island called Hispaniola is situate from latitude 17° to 19° ; the circumference is three hundred leagues ; the extent from east to west, one hundred and twenty ; its breadth almost fifty, being broader or narrower at certain places. This island was first discovered by Christopher Co- lumbus, A. D. 1492, he being sent for this purpose by Ferdi- nand, king of Spain, from which time to this present the Span- iards have been continually possessors thereof. There are upon this island very good and strong cities, towns, and hamlets, as well as a great number of pleasant country-houses and planta- tions, the effects of the care and industry of the Spaniards, its inhabitants.

The chief city and metropolis hereof is Santo Domingo, being dedicated to St. Dominick, from whom it derives its name. It is situate towards the south, and affords a most excellent pros-

THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 27

pect, the country round about being embellished with innu- merable rich plantations, as also verdant meadows and fruitful gardens, all which produce plenty and variety of excellent, pleasant fruits, according to the nature of those countries. The governor of the island resides in this city, which is, as it were, the storehouse of all the cities, towns, and villages, which hence export and provide themselves with all necessaries for human life ; and yet hath it this particularity above many other cities, that it entertains no commerce with any nation but its own, the Spaniards. The greatest part of the inhabit- ants are rich and substantial merchants or shopkeepers.

Another city of this island is San Jago, or St. James, being consecrated to that apostle. This is an open place, without walls or castle, situate in latitude 19°. The inhabitants are generally hunters and planters, the adjacent territory and soil being very proper for the said exercises. The city is surrounded with large and delicious fields, as much pleasing to the view as those of Santo Domingo ; and these abound with beasts, both wild and tarrje, yielding vast numbers of skins and hides, very profit- able to the owners.

In the south part of this island is another city, called Nues- tra Sennora de Alia Gracia. This territory produces great quantities of cocoa, whereof the inhabitants make great store of the richest chocolate. Here grow, also, ginger and to- bacco, and much tallow is made of the beasts which are here- abouts hunted.

The inhabitants of this beautiful Island of Hispaniola often resort in their canoes to the Isle of Savona, not far distant, where is their chief fishery, especially of tortoises. Hither those fish constantly resort in great multitudes, at certain sea- sons, there to lay their eggs, burying them in the sands of the shoal, where, by the heat of the sun, which in those parts is very ardent, they are hatched. This Island of Savona has little or nothing that is worthy consideration, being so very barren by reason of its sandy soil'. True it is, that here grows some small quantity of Lignum Sanctum, or guaiacum, of whose use we say something in another place.

Westward of Santo Domingo is another great village, called El Pueblo de Aso, or the town of Aso. The inhabitants thereof drive great traffic with those of another village, in the very middle of the island, and is called San Juan de Goavc, or St. John of Goave. This is environed with a magnificent prospect of gardens, woods, and meadows. Its territory ex- tends above twenty leagues in length, and grazes a great num- ber of wild bulls and cows. In this village scarce dwell any

28 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA.

other than hunters and butchers, who flay the beasts that are killed. These are for the most part a mongrel sort of people, some of .which are born of white European people and ne- groes, and called mulattoes ; others of Indians and white peo- ple, and termed mesticoes. But others come of negroes and Indians, and are called alcatraces. Besides which sorts of peo- ple, there are several other species and races, both here and in other places of the West Indies, of whom this account may be given : that the Spaniards love better the negro women in those western parts, or the tawny Indian females, than their own white European race ; when as, peradventure. the negroes and Indians have greater inclinations to the white women or those that come near them, the tawny, than their own. From the said village are exported yearly vast quantities of tallow and hides, they exercising no other traffic. For as to the lands in this place, they are not cultivated, by reason of the exces- sive dryness of the soil. These are the chiefest places that the Spaniards possess in this island, from the Cape of Lobos towards St. John de Goave, unto the Cape of Samana, nigh the sea, on the north side, and from the eastern part towards the sea, called Punta de Espada. All the rest of the island is possessed by the French, who are also planters and hunters.

This island hath very good ports for ships from the Cape of Lobos to the Cape of Tiburon, on the west side thereof. In this space there are no less than four ports, exceeding in good- ness, largeness, and security, even the very best of England. Besides these, from the Cape of Tiburon to the Cape of Donna Maria, there are two very excellent ports, and from this cape to the Cape of St. Nicholas there are no less than twelve others. Every one of these ports hath also the confluence of two or three good rivers, in which are great plenty of several sorts of fish, very pleasing to the palate. The country hereabouts is well watered with large and deep rivers and brooks, so that this part of the land may easily be cultivated without any great fear of droughts, because of these excellent streams. The sea coasts and shores are also very pleasant, to which the tortoises resort in large numbers, to lay their eggs.

This island was formerly very well peopled on the north side, with many towns and villages ; but these, being ruined by the Hollanders, were at last, for the greatest part, deserted by the Spaniards.

THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 29

CHAPTER IV.

Of the Fruits, Trees, and Animals of Hispaniola.

The spacious fields of this island commonly are five or six leagues in length, the beauty whereof is- so pleasing to the eye, that, together with the great variety of their natural produc- tions, they captivate the senses of the beholder. For here, at once, they not only, with diversity of objects, recreate the sight, but with many of the same do also please the smell, and with most contribute delights to the taste ; also they flatter and excite the appetite, especially with the multitudes of oranges and lemons here growing, both sweet and sour, and those that participate of both tastes, and are only pleasantly tartish. Be- sides, here abundantly grow several sorts of fruit ; such are cit- rons, toronjas, and limas, in English not improperly called crab-lemons. True it is, that the lemons exceed not here the bigness of a hen's egg, which smallness distinguishes them from those of Spain, most frequently used in these our north- ern countries. The date-trees, which here cover very spacious plains, are exceeding tall, which, notwithstanding, doth not of- fend, but delight the view. Their height is from one hundred and fifty to two hundred feet, being destitute of branches to the very tops. Within it is a certain pleasant white substance, like that of white cabbage, whence the branches and leaves sprout, in which the seeds or dates are contained. Every month one of those branches falls, and at the same time another sprouts out ; but the seed ripens not but once a year. The dates are food extremely coveted by the hedgehogs. The white substance at the top of the tree is used by the Spaniards as cabbage, in Europe, they cutting it in slices, and boiling it in their ollas, with all sorts of meat. The leaves of this date tree are seven or eight feet long, and three or four broad, being very fit to cover houses, for they defend from rain equally with the best tiles, though never so rudely huddled together. They use them, also, to wrap up smoked flesh, and to make buckets to carry water in, though not durable for above six, seven, or eight days. These cabbages, for so we shall call them, are greenish on the outside, though inwardly very white, whence may be separated a rind, very like to parchment, being fit to write on, as we do on paper. The bodies of these trees are of a huge thickness, which two men can hardly compass with their arms ; and yet they cannot properly be termed woody, .3*

30 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA.

but only three or four inches deep in thickness, all the rest of the internal part being very soft ; so that, paring oif those three or- four inches of woody substance, the remaining part may be sliced like new cheese. They wound them three or four feet above the root, and, making an incision in the body, from thence gently distils a liquor, which, in a short time fer- menting, becomes as strong as the richest wine, and which easily inebriates, if not used with moderation. The French call these palm-trees Frank-palms, and they only grow here, or elseAvhere in saltish grounds.

Besides these palm-trees which we have mentioned, there are in Hispaniola four other species of palms, distinguished by the names of latanier, palma espinosa, or prickle palm, palma a chapelet, or rosary palm. The latanier palm is not so tall as the wine palm, but almost of the same shape, only the leaves are like the fans our women use. They grow mostly in grav- elly and sandy ground, their circumference being of seven feet, more or less. The body hath many prickles or thorns, half a foot long, very sharp and pungent. It produces its seed, like as that above mentioned, which serves for food to the wild beasts.

The prickle palm, so called because it is infinitely full of prickles, from the root to the very leaves, much more than the precedent. With these prickles, the barbarous Indians use to torment the prisoners they take in battle. They tie them to a tree, then taking these thorns, they put them into little pellets of cotton, dipped in oil, and stick them into the sides of the miserable prisoners, as thick as the bristles of a hedgehog, which cause an incredible torment to the patient. Then they set them on fire, and if the tormented prisoner sing in the , midst of his torments, he is esteemed a courageous soldier, who neither fears his enemies nor their torments ; but if, on the contrary, he cries out, they esteem him a coward, and un- worthy of any memory. This custom was told me by an In- dian, who said he had used his enemies thus oftentimes. The like cruelties to these many Christians have seen, while they lived among those barbarians. But returning to the prickle palm, I shall only tell you that this palm-tree in this only dif- fers from the latanier, that the leaves are like those of the Frank-palm ; its seed is like that of the other palm-trees, being only much bigger and rounder, and full of little kernels, as pleasing to the taste as our walnuts in Europe. This tree grows for the most part in the marshes and low grounds of the sea-coast.

The wine palm is so called from the abundance of wine

THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 31

gathered from it. This palm grows in high and rocky moun- tains, not exceeding the height of forty or fifty feet, but yet of an extraordinary shape or form. For from the root up half way, it is only three or four inches thick ; but upwards, some- thing above two thirds of its height, it is as big and as thick as an ordinary bucket or milk-pail ; within it is full of a cer- tain matter, very much like the tender stalk of a white cab- bage, which is very juicy, of a liquor very pleasing to the pal- ate. This liquor, after fermentation and settling of the grounds, becomes very good and clear wine, without any great pains ; for, having wounded the tree with a hatchet, they make a square incision or orifice in it, through which they bruise the said matter till it may be squeezed out, or expressed with the hands, they needing no other instrument. With the leaves they make vessels, not only to settle and purify the said liquor, but also to drink it. It bears its fruit like to other palms, but very small, being like cherries. The taste is very good, but dangerous to the throat, causing extreme pains, which produce malignant quinsies.

The palm a chapelet, or rosary palm, so called by the French and Spaniards, because its seed is very fit to make ro- saries or beads to say prayers upon, they being small, hard, and easily bored. This fourth species grows on the tops of the highest mountains, and is of an excessive tallness, very straight, and hath very few leaves.

Here grows, also, a certain sort of apricot-trees, whose fruit equals in bigness that of our ordinary melons. The color is like ashes, and the taste the very same with that of ours in Europe ; the stones of this fruit being as big as a hen's egg. On these the wild boars feed very deliciously, and fatten to admiration.

The trees called caremites are very like to our pear-trees, whose fruits resemble our Damascene plums, or prunes of Eu- rope, being of a very pleasant and agreeable taste. This fruit is black on the inside, and the kernels thereof sometimes only two, sometimes three or four, as big as a lupine. This plum affords no less pleasant food to the wild boars than the apricots above mentioned, only it is not so commonly found, nor in such quantities.

The genipa-trees are all over this island, being like our cherry-trees, though the branches are more dilated. The fruit thereof is ash-colored, as big as two fists, which is full of many prickles or points, involved under a thin membrane or skin, which, if not taken away at. the time of eating, causes great obstructions and gripings of the belly. Before this fruit grows

32 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA.

ripe, if pressed, it affords a juice as black as ink, being fit to write withal, but the letters disappear within nine days, the paper remaining as white as if it never had been written on. The wood of this tree is very strong, solid, and hard, good to build ships, seeing it lasts many years in the water without putrefaction. .

Besides these, divers other sorts of trees are natives of this island, producing very excellent and pleasant fruits. Of these I shall omit to name several, knowing there are learned authors who have described and searched them with greater attention and curiosity ; but I shall mention some few more, in particu- lar. Such are the cedars, which this part of the world pro- duces in prodigious quantities. The French call them acajou, and they find them useful for building ships and canoes. These canoes are like little wherry boats, being made of only one tree, hollowed, and fitted for the sea. They are so swift, that they may be well called Neptune's post-horses. The In- dians make these canoes without any iron instruments, by only burning the trees nigh the root, and then so governing the fire, as nothing is burnt more than what they would have. Some have hatchets of flint, with which they scrape or pare off what- soever is burnt too far ; and thus, by fire only, they give them that shape which renders them capable of navigating sixty or eighty leagues, with ordinary security.

As to medicinal productions, here is to be found the tree that affords the gum elemi, used in our apothecary shops, likewise guaiacum or lignum sanctum, lignum aloes, aloe wood, cassia lignea, China roots, with several others. The tree mapou, be- sides that it is medicinal, is also used for making canoes, being very thick ; yet it is much inferior to the acajou, or cedar, being somewhat spongy, sucking in much water, which ren- ders it dangerous in navigation. The tree called acoma hath its wood very hard and heavy, and of the color of palm, which renders it very fit to make oars for the sugar mills. Here are, also, in great quantities, brasilete, or brasil wood, and that which the Spaniards call manchanilla.

Brasil wood is now very well known in Holland and the Low Countries. It is called, also, by the Spaniards,' lenna de peje palo. It serves only, or chiefly, for the trade of dyers. It grows abundantly along the sea-coasts, especially in two places, called Jacmel and Jaquina. These are two commodious ports, or bays, capable of receiving ships of the greatest bulk.

The tree called manchanilla, or dwarf apple-tree, grows near the sea-shore, being naturally so low that its branches, though never so short, always touch the water. It bears a fruit some-

THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 33

what like a sweet-scented apple, which yet is of a very ven- omous quality ; for these apples being eaten by any person, he instantly changes color, and such a thirst, seizes him as all the water of the Thames cannot quench, he dying, raving mad, within a little while. But what is more strange, the fish that eat, as it often happens, of this fruit, are also poisonous. This tree affords a liquor, thick and white, like the fig-tree, which, if touched by the hand, raises blisters, and these are as red as if it had been scalded. One day, being hugely tormented with mosquitoes or gnats, and being as yet unacquainted with the nature of this tree, I cut a branch, to serve me for a fan ; but all my face was swelled the next day, and filled with blisters, as if it were burnt, to such a degree that I was blind for three days.

Yaco is another sort of tree, so called by the Spaniards, growing by the river sides. This bears a fruit like our bullace, or damson plums, which, when ripe, is extremely coveted by the wild boars, with which they fatten as much as our hogs do with the sweetest acorns of Spain. These trees love a sandy ground, yet are so low, that their branches being very large, they take up a great circumference, almost couching on the ground. The trees named abelcoses bear fruit of like color with the yacos above mentioned, of the bigness of melons, the seeds, or kernels, being as big as eggs. The substance of this fruit is yellow, and of a pleasant taste, which the poorest among the French eat instead of bread, the wild boars not caring at all for it. These trees grow very tall and thick, being somewhat like our largest pear-trees.

As to the insects of this island, I shall only remark three sorts of flies, which excessively torment all human bodies, but especially such as were never or but little acquainted with these countries. The first sort are as big as our common horse flies in Europe, and these, darting themselves upon men's bodies, there stick, and suck their blood till they can fly no longer. Their importunity obliges to make almost continual use of branches of trees to fan them away. The Spaniards in those parts call them musquitoes, or gnats, but the French call them maranguines. The second sort is no bigger than a grain of sand ; these make no buzzing noise, as the preceding species do, so are less avoidable, being able also, through their smallness, to penetrate the finest linen, or cloth. The hunters are forced tc anoint their faces with hog's grease, to defend themselves from their stings. By night, in their huts or cottages, they con? stantly burn the leaves of tobacco, without which smoke they could not rest. True it is, in the day-time they are not very

34 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA.

troublesome, in case any wind be stirring, for tin's, though never so little, dissipates them. The gnats of the third species ex- ceed not the bigness of a grain of mustard ; their color is red. These sting not at all, but bite so sharply as to create little ulcers, whence it often happens that the face swells, and is ren- dered frightful to the view. These are chiefly troublesome by day, even from morning till sunset, after which they take their rest, and permit human bodies to do so. The Spaniards call these rojados, and the French, calarodes.

The insects which the Spaniards call cochinillas, and the English, glow-worms, are also to be found here. These are very much like those of Europe, but somewhat bigger, and longer. They have two little specks on their heads, which by night 'give so much light, that three or four of them together, upon a tree, seem at a distance like a bright, shining fire. I had once three of these cochinillas in my cottage, which continued there till past midnight, shining so brightly, that, without any other light, I could easily read in any book, of never so small a print. I attempted to bring some of them to Europe, but as soon as they came into a colder climate, they died. They lost, also, their shining, upon the change of air, before their deaths. This shining is so great that the Spaniards, with great reason, call them moscas dc fucgo, that is, fire-flies.

There are. also, in Hispaniola, a great number of grillones, or crickets. These are of an extraordinary magnitude, if com- pared to ours, and so noisy that they are ready to burst them- selves with singing, if any person comes near them. Here is not a less number of reptiles, as serpents, &c, but by a partic- ular providence of the Creator, these have no poison, neither do they any other harm than catch fowls, but more espe- cially pullets, pigeons, and the like. Oftentimes these serpents or snakes are useful in houses, to clear them of rats and mice ; for with great cunning they counterfeit their shrieks, and hereby deceive and catch them at their pleasure. Having taken them, they only suck their blood at first ; then, throwing away the guts, they swallow almost entire the rest of the body, which they readily digest into soft excrements. Another sort of rep- tiles of this island is called cazadorcs de moscas, or fly-catch- ers. This name was given to this reptile by the Spaniards, by reason they never could experiment that it lived upon any other food than flies. Hence it cannot be said that this creature causes any harm to the inhabitants, but rather benefit, seeing it consumes the vexatious and troublesome flies.

Here are, also, many land tortoises. These breed mostly in mud, and fields overflowed with water. The inhabitants eat

THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 35

them, as very good food. But here are a sort of very hideous spiders ; these are as big as an ordinary egg, and their feet as long as those of the biggest sea-crabs. They are very hairy withal, and have four black teeth, like a rabbit's both in big- ness and shape ; but their bitings are not venomous, though they can bite very sharp, and do very commonly. They breed mostly in the roofs of houses. In this island, also, is the insect called, in Latin, rnillepes, and in Greek, scolopendria. or many feet, and likewise scorpions. Yet, by the providence of Nature, neither the one nor the other are poisonous ; for though they often bite, yet the wounds require not any medicament for their cure ; and though their bitings cause some inflammation and swelling at first; yet these symptoms disappear of their own accord. Thus in Hispaniola no venomous animal is found.

After the insects, I shall say something of that terrible beast called cayman. This is a species of the crocodile, wherewith this island abounds. Among these caymans, some are found to be very large and horrible to the sight. Some have been seen no less than seventy feet long, and twelve broad. Yet more marvellous than their bulk is their cunning and subtilty. Being hungry, they place themselves nigh the sides of rivers, especially at the fords where cattle come to drink, or wade over. Here they lie without any motion, resembling an old tree fallen into the river, floating upon the waters. Yet they go not far from the banks, but continually lurch in the same place, till some wild boar or cow come to drink or refresh themselves ; and then, with great activity, they seize on them with no less fierceness, and, dragging the prey into the water, stifle it. But what is more admirable, is, that three or four days before the caymans go upon this design, they eat nothing at all, but, diving into the river, they swallow a hundred weight or two of stones ; with these they render themselves heavier than before, and add to their natural strength, (which is very great,) thereby to make their assault the more terrible and secure. The prey thus stifled, they let it lie four or five days under the water, untouched, for they cannot eat the least bit unless it is hall rotten : but when it is so much putrified as is most pleasing to their palates, they devour it with great appetite and voracity. If they can light on any hides of beasts, placed by the inhabitants in the fields for drying, they drag them into the water, leaving them for some days, well loaded with stones, till the hair falls oft' ; then they eat them with no less appetite than they would the animals themselves. I have seen myself, many times, like things to these I write ; but beside my own experience, many writers of natural things have made entire

36 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA.

treatises of these animals, describing their shape, magnitude, voracity, and other qualities. A certain person, of good credit, told me that one day he "was by a river-side, washing his bar- aca, or tent. As soon as he began his work, a cayman fastened upon the tent, and dragged it under water. The man, desirous to save his tent, pulled, on the contrary, with all his strength, having in his mouth a butcher's knife, (with which, as it hap- pened, he was scraping the canvas,) to defend himself, in case of necessity. The cayman, angry at this, vaulted upon him out of the river, and drew him with great celerity into the water, endeavoring with his weight to stifle him. He, finding himself in the greatest extremity, almost crushed to death by that huge animal, with his knife he gave the cayman several wounds in the belly, with which he suddenly expired. Being thus delivered from danger, he drew the cayman out of the water, and opened the body, to satisfy his curiosity. In his stomach he found near a hundred weight of stones, each stone being almost as big as his fist.

The caymans are ordinarily busied in catching flies, which they eagerly devour. The occasion is, because close to their skin they have little scales, which have a sweet scent, some- what like musk. This aromatic odor the flies love, and here they come to repose themselves, and sting. Thus, they both persecute each other continually, with an incredible hatred and antipathy. Their manner of procreating and hatching their young is thus : they approach the sandy banks of some river exposed to the south sun ; among these sands they lay their eggs, which afterwards they cover with their feet ; and here they find a young generation, hatched only by the heat of the sun. These, as soon as they are out of the shell, by natural instinct run to the water. Many times these eggs are destroyed by birds, that find them as they scrape among the sands. Here- upon the female caymans, when they fear the coming of any flocks of birds, oftentimes, by night, swallow these their eggs, and keep them in their stomachs till the danger is over, and then they bury them again, and, as I have told you, bring them forth again out of their bellies, till the season is come of their being hatched ; then, if the mother be nigh, they run to her, and play with her, as little whelps do with their dams. In this sort of sport, they will often run in and out of their mother's belly, even as rabbits into their holes. I myself have often spied them thus at play with their dams, over the water, upon the contrary banks of some river, and have disturbed their sport by throwing a stone that way, causing them on a sudden to creep into the mother's bowels for fear. The manner

THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 37

of procreating of these animals is always such as I have re- lated, and at the same time of the year ; for they meddle not with one another but in May. They call them in this country crocodiles, though in other places of the West Indies they go utider the name of caymans.

CHAPTER V.

Of all the Sorts of Quadrupeds and Birds of this Island : as also a Relation of the French Buccaneers.

Beside the fruits which this island produces, whose plenty, as is said, surpasses all the island's of America, it abounds also with all sorts of quadrupeds, as horses, bulls, cows, wild boars, and others, very useful to mankind, not only for food, but for cultivating the ground, and the management of commerce.

Here are vast numbers of wild dogs ; these destroy yearly many cattle ; for no sooner hath a cow calved, or a mare foaled, but these wild mastiffs devour the young, if they find not re- sistance from keepers and domestic dogs. They run up and down the woods and fields, commonly fifty, threescore, or more, together ; being withal so fierce that they will often assault an entire herd of wild boars, not ceasing to worry them till they have fetched down two or three. One day a French Buccaneer showed me a strange action of this kind : being in the fields a hunting together, we heard a great noise of dogs, which had surrounded a wild boar. Having tame dogs with us, we left them to the custody of our servants, being desirous to see the sport. Hence my companion and I climbed up two several trees, both for security and prospect. The wild boar, all alone, stood against a tree, defending himself with his tusks from a great number of dogs that enclosed him ; killed with his teeth, and wounded several of them. This bloody fight continued about an hour, the, wild boar, meanwhile, attempting many times to escape. At last flying, one dog leaping upon his back, fastened on his testicles, which at one pull he tore in pieces. The rest of the dogs, perceiving the courage of their compan- ion, fastened likewise on the boar, and presently killed him. This done, all of them, the first only excepted, laid themselves down upon the ground about the prey, and there peaceably continued, till he, the first and most courageous of the troop, had eat as much as he could. When this dog had left off, all 4

38

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the rest fell in to take their share, till nothing was left. What ought we to infer from this notable action, performed by wild animals, but this: that even beasts themselves are not destitute of knowledge, and that they give us documents how to honor such as have deserved well ; even since these irrational animals did reverence and respect him that exposed his life to the great- est danger against the common enemy ?

The governor of Tortuga, Monsieur Ogeron, finding that the wild dogs killed so many of the wild boars, that the hunt- ers of that island had much ado to find any, fearing lest that common sustenance of the island should fail', sent, for a great quantity of poison from France to destroy the wild mastitis. This was done A. D. 166S, by commanding horses to be killed and empoisoned, and laid open at certain places where the wild dogs used to resort. This being continued for six months, there were killed an incredible number; and yet all this could not exterminate and destroy the race, or scarce diminish them ; their number appearing almost as large as before. These wild dogs are easily tamed among men, even as tame as ordinary house dogs. The hunters of those parts, whenever they find a wild bitch with whelps, commonly take away the puppies, and bring them home ; which being grown up, they hunt much better than other do.^s.

But here the curious reader may perhaps inquire how so many wild dogs came here. The occasion was, the Spaniards having possessed these isles, found them peopled with Indians, a bar- barous people, sensual and brutish, hating all labor, and only inclined to killing and making war against their neighbors; not out of ambition, but only because they agreed not with themselves in some common terms of language ; and perceiving the dominion of the Spaniards laid great restrictions upon their lazy and brutish customs, they conceived an irreconcilable ha- tred against them ; but especially because they saw them take possession of their kingdoms and dominions. Hereupon they made against them all the resistance they could, opposing every where their designs, to the utmost: and the Spaniards finding themselves cruelly hated by the Indians, and nowhere secure from their treacheries, resolved to extirpate and ruin them, since they could neither tame them by civility, nor conquer them with the sword. But the Indians, it being their custom to make the woods their chief places of defence, at present made these their refuge, whenever they fled from the Spaniards. Hereupon those first conquerors of the New World made use of dogs to range and search the intricatest thickets of woods and forests for those implacable and unconquerable enemies ;

THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. '$9

thus they forced them to leave their old refuge, and submit to the sword, seeing no milder usage would do it; hereupon they killed some of them, and, quartering their bodies, placed them in the highways, that others might take warning from such a punishment ; but this severity proved of ill consequence, for instead of frighting them and reducing them to civility, they conceived such horror of the Spaniards, that they resolved to detest and fly their sight forever ; hence the greatest part died in caves and subterraneous places of the woods and mountains, in which places I myself have often seen great numbers of human bones. The Spaniards, finding no more Indians to ap- pear about the woods, turned away a great number of dogs they had in their houses, and they, finding no masters to keep them, betook themselves to the woods and fields to hunt for food to preserve their lives; thus by degrees they became un- acquainted with houses, and grew wild. This is the truest ac- count I can give of the multitudes of wild dogs in these parts.

But besides these wild mastiffs, here are also great numbers of wild horses every where all over the island. They are but low of stature, short-bodied, with great heads, long necks, and big or thick legs. In a word, they have nothing handsome in their shape". They run up and down, commonly in troops of two or three hundred together, one going always before to lead the multitude. When they meet any person travelling through the woods or fields, they stand still, suffering him to approach till he can almost touch them : and then suddenly starting, they betake themselves to flight, running away as fast as they can. The hunters catch them only for their skins, though sometimes they preserve their flesh likewise, which they harden with smoke, using it for provisions when they go to sea.

Here would be also wild bulls and cows in great number, if by continual hunting they were not much diminished; yet considerable profit is made to this day by such as make it their business to kill them. The wild bulls are of a vast bigness of body, and yet they hurt not any one except they be exasper- ated. Their hides are from eleven to thirteen feet long.

The diversity of birds of this island is so great, that I should be troublesome if I should attempt to muster up their species ; so that I shall content myself to mention some few of the chief. Here is a certain species of pullets in the woods which the Spaniards call pintadas, which the inhabitants find to be as good as those bred in houses. Every body knows that the parrots we have in Europe are brought from these parts, whence may be inferred, that seeing such a number of these talkative birds are preserved among us, notwithstanding the diversity of

40 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA.

climates, much greater multitudes are to be found where tho air and temperament is natural to them. The parrots make their nests in holes of palmetto trees, which holes are before made by other birds; for they are not capable of excavating any wood, though never so soft, having their own bills too crooked and blunt; hence provident Nature hath supplied them with the labor of other birds, called carpenters. These are no bigger than sparrows, yet have such hard and piercing bills, that no iron instrument can be made fitter to excavate any tree, though never so solid and hard ; and these holes the parrots getting possession of, build in them their nests. There are pigeons of all sorts, which are very useful to the inhabitants. Those of this island observe the same seasons we mentioned before, speaking of Tortuga. Betwixt the pigeons of both islands is little or no difference, only that these of Hispaniola are something fatter and bigger. Another sort of small birds here are called cabreros, or goat-keepers ; these are very like others called heronsetas, and chiefly feed upon crabs of the sea. In these birds are found seven distinct bladders of gall, and their flesh is as bitter as aloes. Crows or ravens, more troublesome than useful, do here make a hideous noise through the whole island. Their ordinary food is the flesh of wild dogs, or the carcasses of those beasts the Buccaneers kill and throw away. These clamorous birds no sooner hear the report of a fowling-piece or musket, but they gather from all sides in flocks, and fill the air and woods with their unpleasant notes; they are nothing different from those of Europe.

It is now time to speak of the French who inhabit a great part of this island. We have already told how they came first into these parts ; we shall now only describe their manner of living, customs, and ordinary employments. The callings or professions they follow are generally but three, either to hunt or plant, or else to rove the seas as pirates. It is a constant custom among them all to seek out a comrade or companion, whom we may call partner in their fortunes, with whom they join the whole stock of what they possess towards a common gain. This is done by articles agreed to and reciprocally signed. Some constitute their surviving companion absolute heir to what is left by the death of the first. Others, if they be married, leave their estates to their wives and children ; others, to other relations. This done, every one applies himself to his calling, which is always one of the three afore mentioned.

The hunters are again subdivided into two sorts; for some of these only hunt wild bulls and cows, others only wild boars. The first of these are called Buccaneers, and not long ago were

THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 41

about 600 on this island, but now they are reckoned about 300. The cause has been the great decrease of wild cattle, which has been such, that, far from getting, they now are but poor in their trade. When tlje Buccaneers go into the woods to hunt for wild bulls and cows, they commonly remain there a twelve- month or two years without returning home. After the hunt is over, and the spoil divided, they commonly sail to Tortuga, to provide themselves with guns, powder, and shot, and other necessaries for another expedition ; the rest of their gains they spend prodigally, giving themselves to all manner of vices and debauchery, particularly to drunkenness, which they practise mostly with brandy; this they drink as liberally as the Span- iards do water. Sometimes they buy together a pipe of wine ; this they stave at one end, and never cease drinking till it is out. Thus sottishly they live till they have no money left, and as freely gratify their lusts, for which they find more women than they can use ; for all the tavern-keepers and strumpets wait for these lewd Buccaneers, just as they do at Amsterdam for the arrival of the East India fleet. The said Buccaneers are very cruel and tyrannical to their servants, so that com- monly they had rather be galley-slaves, .or saw Brazil wood in the rasp-houses of Holland, than serve such barbarous masters.

The second sort hunt nothing but wild boars; the flesh of these they salt, and sell it so to the planters. These hunters have the same vicious customs, and are as much addicted to debauch- ery as the former ; but their manner of hunting is different from that in Europe ; for these Buccaneers have certain places de- signed for hunting, where they live for three or four months, and sometimes a whole year. Such places are called Deza Boulan ; and in these, with only the company of five or six friends, they continue all the said time in mutual friendship. The first Buccaneers many times agree with planters to furnish them with meat all the year at a certain price ; the payment hereof is often made with two or three hundred weight of to- bacco in the leaf; but the planters commonly into the bargain furnish them with a servant, whom they send to help. To the servant they afford sufficient necessaries for the purpose, espe- cially of po derand shot to hunt withal.

The planters began to cultivate and plant the Isle of Tortu- ga A. D. 1598. The first plantation was of tobacco, which grew to admiration, being likewise very good ; but by reason of the smallness of the island they could plant but littie, there being many pieces of land there that were not fit to produce it. They attempted likewise to make sugar, but by reason of the great expenses they could not bring it to any effect ; so that the 4#

42 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA.

greatest part of the inhabitants, as we said before, betook them- selves to hunting, and the remaining part to piracy. At last the hunters finding themselves unable to subsist by that pro- fession, began to seek out lands fit for culture, and in these they also planted tobacco. The first land they chose was Cat de Sac, towards the south part of the island. This ground they divided into several quarters, which were called the great Amea, Niep, Rochelois, the Little Grave, the Great Grave, and the Augame, Here they increased so, that now there are above 2000 planters. At first they endured much hardship, because while they were busied about their husbandry, they could not go out of the island for provisions. This hardship was in- creased by the necessity of grubbing, cutting down, burning and digging, to extirpate the innumerable roots of shrubs and trees ; for when the French possessed themselves thereof, it was overgrown with woods very thick, and these only inhabited by wild boars. The method they took was to divide them- selves into small companies of two or three persons together, and these companies to separate far enough from each other, provided with a few hatchets and some coarse provision. Thus they used to go into the woods, and there to build huts only of a few rafters and boughs of trees. • They first rooted up the shrubs and little trees, then cut down the great ones ; these they heaped up, and then set on fire ; but they were constrained to grub and dig up the roots as well as they could. The first seed they sowed was beans; these in those countries ripen and, dry always in six weeks.

The second fruit necessary to human life, which here ihey tried, was potatoes ; these come not to perfection in less than four or five months. On these they most commonly make their breakfasts ; they dress them only by boiling them in a kettle with fair water, then they cover them with cloth for half an hour, whereby they become as soft as boiled chestnuts. Of the said potatoes also they make a drink tailed maiz ; they cut them into small slices, and cover them with hot water; when they are well imbibed, they press them through a coarse cloth, and the liquor that comes, though something thick, they keep in vessels made for that purpose ; here, after setting two or three days, it works, and having thrown otf its lees, is fit for drink. They use it with great delight ; and though the taste is somewhat sour, yet it is very pleasant, substantial, and whole- some. The invention of this is owing to the Indians, as well as of many other things, which those barbarians found out for the preservation and pleasure of life.

The third fruit the newly cultivated land afforded was man-

THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 43

dioca, which the Indians call cazave ; this root comes not to perfection till after eight or nine months, or perhaps a year; being thoroughly ripe, it may be left in the ground for eleven or twelve months without fear of corruption; but this time past, they must be used one way or other, otherwise they rot. Of these roots is made a sort of granulous flour or meal, dry and white, which supplies the want of common bread of wheat, whereof the fields are altogether barren. For this purpose they have certain graters, made either of copper or tin. wherewith they grate these roots, just as they do mirio in Holland. By the by, let me tell you, mirio is a root of a very biting taste, like strong mustard, wherewith they make sauces for some sorts of fish. When they have grated as much cazave roots as will serve the turn, they put the gratings into bags or sacks of coarse linen, and press out all the moisture ; then they sieve the grat- ings, leaving them very like saw-dust. The meal, thus prepared, they lay on planches of iron made very hot, on which it is converted into very thin cakes ; these are placed in the sun, on the tops of houses, to be thoroughly dried, and, lest they should lose any part of their meal, what did not pass the sieve, is made up in rolls, five or six inches thick; these are placed one upon another, and left so till they begin to corrupt. Of this they make a liquor called veycou, which they find very excellent, and certainly is not inferior to our English beer.

Bananas are another fruit, of which is made excellent liquor, which, in strength and pleasantness of taste, may be compared to the best wines of Spain; but this liquor easily causes drunk- enness, and frequently inflames the throat, and produces dan- gerous diseases in that part. Guineas agudos is also another fruit whereof they make drink, but not so strong as the prece- dent. Howbeit, one and the other are frequently mixed with water to quench thirst.

After they had cultivated these plantations with all sorts of roots and fruits necessary for human life, they began to plant tobacco for trade,, the manner whereof is thus: they make beds of earth twelve feet square ; these they cover with palmite leaves, that the rays of the sun may not reach the earth ; they water them when it doth not rain, as we do our gardens in Europe ; being grown about the bigness of young lettuce, they transplant it into straight lines in spacious fields, setting every plant three feet distant from each other. The fittest season of the year for these things is from January till the end of March, these being the months wherein most rains fall. Tobacco must be weeded very carefully, seeing the least root of any other

44 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA.

herb coming near it hinders its growth. When it is grown to the height of about one foot and a half, they cut off the tops, to hinder the stalks and leaves from shooting up too high, that the whole plant may, receive greater strength from the earth. When it comes to full perfection, they prepare certain apart- ments of fifty or sixty feet long, and thirty or forty broad; these they fill with poles and rafters, and on them lay the green tobacco to dry. When it is thoroughly dried, they strip the leaf from the stalks, and cause it to be rolled up by certain people, who are employed in this* work and no other; to these they afford for their labor the tenth part of what they make up. This property is peculiar to tobacco, which I shall not omit, — that if, while it is in the ground, the leaf be pulled off from the stalk, it sprouts again no less than four times a year. Here I would also give an account of the manner of making sugar, indigo, and gimbes ; but seeing these things are not planted in those parts, I pass them over.

The French planters of Hispaniola have always been subject to the governors of Tortuga, but not without much reluctancy and grudging. In 1644, the West India Company of France laid the foundations of a colony in Tortuga, under which the planters of Hispaniola were comprehended as subjects. This decree disgusted the said planters, they taking it very ill to be reputed subjects to a private company of men who had no au- thority to make them so, especially being in a country which belonged not to the king of France. Hereupon they resolved to work no longer for the said company; and this resolution was sufficient to compel the company to a total dissolution of the colony. But at last the governor of Tortuga, who was pretty well stocked with planters, conceiving he could more easily force them than the West India Company, found an in- vention to draw them to his obedience : he promised them he would put off their merchandise, and cause such returns to be made from France as they should like ; withal, he dealt with the merchants underhand, that ail ships should come consigned to him, and no persons should correspond with those planters of Hispaniola, thinking thereby to avoid many inconveniences. and compel them through want of all things to obey. Thus he not only obtained the obedience he designed, but some merchants, who had promised to deal with them and visit them no longer, did it.

Notwithstanding what hath been said, A. D. 1669 two ships from Holland arrived at Hispaniola with all sorts of merchan- dise : with these, presently, the planters resolved to deal, and with the Dutch nation for the future, thinking hereby to with-

THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 45

draw their obedience from the governor of Tortugaj and by frustrating his designs, revenge themselves of what they had endured under his government. Not long after the arrival of the Hollanders, the governor of Tortuga came to visit the plantation of Hispaniola, in a vessel very well armed ; but the planters not only forbid him to come ashore, but with their guns forced him to retire faster than he came. Thus the Hol- landers began a trade with these people ; but such relations and friends as the governor had in Hispaniola used all the endeav- ors they were capable of, to impede the commerce. This being understood by the planters, they sent them word, that in case they laid not aside their artifices for the hinderance of the com- merce which was begun with the Hollanders, they should every one assuredly be torn in pieces. Moreover, to oblige further the Hollanders, and contemn the governor and his party, they gave greater ladings unto the two ships than they could desire, with many gifts and presents unto the officers and mariners, whereby they sent them very well contented to their own country. The Hollanders came again very punctually, accord- ing to their promise, and found the planters under a greater indignation than before against the governor, either because of the great satisfaction they had already conceived of this com- merce with the Dutch, or that by their means they hoped to subsist by themselves, without any further dependence from the French nation. However it was, suddenly after they set up another resolution more strange than the precedent; the tenor whereof was, that they would go unto the Island of Tortuga, and cut the governor in pieces. Hereupon they gathered together as many canoes as they could, and set sail from His- paniola, with design not only to kill the governor, but also to possess themselves of the whole Island. This they thought they could not but easily perform, by reason of all necessary assistance, which they believed would at any time be sent them from Holland ; by which means, they were ready determined, in their minds, to e'rect themselves- into a new commonwea'th, independent of the crown of France. But no sooner had they begun this great revolution of their little state, when they re- ceived news of a war declared between the two nations in Europe. This wrought such a consternation in their minds, as caused them to give over that enterprise, and retire, without attempting any -thing.

In the mean time, the governor of Tortuga sent into France for aid towards his own security, and the reduction of those people unto their former obedience. This. was granted him, and two men-of-war were sent unto Tortuga, with orders to bq

46 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA.

at his command. Having received such a considerable support, he sent them, very well equipped, to the Island of Hispauiola, Being arrived at that place, they landed part of the forces, with a design to force the people to the obedience of those whom they hated in their hearts. But the planters, seeing the arrival of these two frigates, and not being ignorant of their design, fled into the woods, abandoning their houses and many of their goods, which they left behind. These were immediately rifled and burned by the French, without compassion, not sparing the least cottage. Afterwards the governor began to relent, and let them know that, if they would return to his obedience, he would hearken to an accommodation. Here- upon the planters, finding they could expect no relief, surren- dered to the governor, upon articles made and signed on both sides. But these were not strictly observed, for he commanded two of the chief of them to be hanged. The residue were pardoned, and withal he gave them free leave to trade with any nation for whatsoever they found necessary. With this liberty, they began to recultivate their plantations, which yielded a great quantity of very good tobacco, they selling yearly to the sum of twenty or thirty thousand rolls.

The planters here have but very iew slaves, for want of which, themselves and their servants are constrained to do all the drudgery. These servants commonly bind themselves to their masters for three years ; but their masters, having no con- sciences, often traffic with their bodies, as with horses at a fair, selling them to other masters as they sell negroes. Yea, to advance this trade, some persons go purposely into France (and likewise to England and other countries) to pick up young men or boys, whom they inveigle and transport; and having once got them into these islands, they work them like horses, the toil imposed on them being much harder than what they enjoin the negroes, their slaves ; for these they endeavor to preserve, being their perpetual bondmen. But for their white servants, they care not whether they live or die, seeing they are to serve them no longer than three years. These miserable kidnapped people are frequently subject to a disease, which in these parts is called coma, being a total privation of their senses. This distemper is judged to proceed from their hard usage, and the change of their native climate ; and there being often among these some of good quality, tender education, and soft constitutions, they are more easily seized with this disease, and others of those countries, than those of harder bodies and laborious lives. Beside the hard usage in their diet, apparel, and rest, many times they beat them so cruelly that they fall

THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 47

down dead under the hands of their cruel masters. This I have often seen, with great grief. Of the many instances, I shall only give you the following history, it being very remark- able in its circumstances.

A certain planter of these countries exercised such cruelty towards one of his servants, as caused him to run away. Having absconded for some days, in the woods, at last he was taken, and brought back to the wicked Pharaoh. No sooner had he got him, but he commanded him to be tied to a tree ; here he gave him so many lashes on his naked back, as made his body run with an entire stream of blood ; then, to make the smart of his wounds the greater, he anointed him with lemon-juice, mixed with salt and pepper. In this miserable posture he left him tied to the tree for twenty-four hours, which being past, he began his punishment again, lashing him, as before, so cruelly, that the miserable wretch gave up the ghost, with these dying words : " I beseech the Almighty God, Creator of heaven and earth, that he permit the wicked spirit to make thee feel as many torments before thy death as thou hast caused me to feel before mine." A strange thing, and worthy of astonishment and admiration ! Scarce three or four days were past, after this horrible fact, when the Almighty Judge, who had heard the cries of that tormented wretch, suf- fered the evil one suddenly to possess this barbarous and inhu- man homicide, so that those cruel hands which, had punished to death his innocent servant were the tormenters of his own body ; for he beat himself and tore his flesh after a miserable manner, till he lost the very shape of a man, not ceasing to howl and cry, without any rest by day or night. Thus he continued raving mad, till he died. Many other examples of this kind I could rehearse; but these not belonging to oui present discourse, I omit them.

The planters of the Carribee Islands are rather worse, and more cruel to their servants, than the former. In the Isle of St. Christopher dwells one named Bettesa, well known to the Dutch merchants, who has killed above a hundred of his ser- vants with blows and stripes. The English do the same with their servants, and the mildest cruelty they exercise towards them is, that when they have served six years of their time, (they being bound among the English for seven,) they use them so cruelly as to force them to beg of their masters to sell them to others, though it be to begin another servitude of seven years, or at least three or- four. And I have known many wha have thus served fifteen or twenty years, before they could ob- tain their freedom. Another law, very rigorous in that nation,

48 THE BUCCANEERS OF .AMERICA.

is, if any man owes another above twenty-five English shil- lings, if he cannot pay it he is liable to be sold for six or eight months. Not to trouble the reader any longer with relations of this kind, I shall now describe the famous actions and ex- ploits of the greatest pirates of my time, durirtg my residence in those parts ; these I shall relate without the least" passion or partiality, and assure my reader that I shall give him no stories upon trust or hearsay, but only those enterprises to which I' was myself an eye-witness.

CHAPTER VI.

Of the original of the most famous Pirates of the Coasts of America. — A famous Exploit of Pierre Le Grand.

I have told you, in the preceding chapters, how I was com- pelled tQ adventure my life among the pirates of America, which sort of men I name so, because they are not authorized by any sovereign prince ; for the kings of Spain, having on several occasions sent their ambassadors to the kings of Eng- land and France, to complain of the molestations and troubles those pirates often caused on the coasts of America, even in the calm of peace ; it hath always been answered, that such men did not commit those acts of hostility and piracy as sub- jects to their majesties ; and, therefore, his Catholic majesty might proceed against them as he should think fit. The king of France added, that he had no fortress* nor castle upon His- paniola, neither did he receive a farthing of tribute from thence. And the king of England rejoined, that he had never given any commissions to those of Jamaica, to commit hostilities against the subjects of his Catholic majesty. Nor did he only give this bare answer, but out of his royal desire to pleasure the court of Spain, recalled the governor of Jamaica, placing another in his room ; all which could not prevent these pirates from acting as heretofore. But before I relate their bold ac- tions, I shall say something of their rise and exercises, as also of the chiefest of them, and their manner of arming them- selves before they put to sea.

The first pirate that was known upon Tortuga was Pierre Le Grand, or Peter the Great. He was born at Diep, in Nor- mandy. That action which rendered him famous, was his

THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 49

taking the vice-admiral of the Spanish flota, near the Cape of Tiburon. on the west side of Hispaniola. This he performed with only one boat and twenty-eight men. Now, till that time the Spaniards had passed and repassed, with all security through the Channel of Bahama ; so that Pierre Le Grand, sut ting out to sea by the Caycos, he took this great ship with ali the ease imaginable. The Spaniards they found aboard they set ashore, and sent the vessel to France. The manner how this undaunted spirit attempted and took this large ship, I shall give you out of the journal of the author, in his own words : " The boat," says he, " wherein Pierre Le Grand was with his companions, had been at sea a long time without finding any prize worth his taking ; and their provisions beginning to fail, they were in danger of starving. Being almost reduced to despair, they spied a great ship of the Spanish flota, separated from the rest. This vessel they resolved to take, or die in the attempt. Hereupon they sailed towards her, to view her strength ; and though they judged the vessel to be superior to theirs, yet their covetousness, and the extremity they were re- duced to, made them venture. Being come so near that they could not possibly escape, they made an oath to their captain, Pierre Le Grand, to stand by him to the last. 'Tis true, the pirates did believe they should find the ship unprovided to fight, and thereby the sooner master her. It was in the dusk of the evening they began to attack; but before they engaged, they ordered the surgeon of the boat, to bore a hole in the sides of it, that, their own vessel sinking under them, they might be compelled to attack more vigorously, and endeavor more hastily to board the ship. This was done accordingly, and without any other arms than a pistol in one hand and a sword in the other, they immediately climbed up the sides of the ship, and ran altogether into the great cabin, where they found the cap- tain, with several of his companions, playing at cards. Here they set a pistol to his breast, commanding him to deliver up the ship. The Spaniards, surprised to see the pirates aboard their ship, cried, ' Jesus bless us! are these devils, or what are they? ' Meanwhile, some of them took possession of the gun- room, and seized the arms, killing as many as made any oppo- sition ; whereupon the Spaniards presently surrendered. That very day, the captain of the ship had been told, by some 'of the seamen, that the boat which was in view, cruising, was a boat of pirates; whom the captain slightly answered, 'What then, must I be afraid of such a pitiful a thing as that is? No, though she were a ship as big and as strong as mine is.' As soon as Pierre Le Grand had taken this rich prize, he detained 5

50 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA.

in his service as many of the common .seamen as he had need of, setting the rest ashore, and then set sail for France, where he continued, without ever returning to America again. "

The planters and hunters of Tortuga had no sooner heard of the rich prize those pirates had taken, but they resolved to fol- low their example. Hereupon many of them left their em- ployments, and endeavored to get some small boats, wherein to exercise piracy; but not being able to purchase or build them at Tortuga, they resolved to set forth in their canoes, and seek them elsewhere. With these they cruised at first upon Cape de Alvarez, where the Spaniards used to trade from one city to another in small vessels, in which they carry hides, tobacco, and other commodities, to the Havana, and to which the Span- iards from Europe do frequently resort.

Here it was that those pirates at first took a great many boats, laden with the aforesaid commodities. These they used to carry to Tortuga, and sell the whole purchase to the ships that waited for their return, or accidentally happened to be there. With the gains of these prizes they provided them- selves 'with necessaries wherewith to undertake other voyages, some of which were made to Campeachy, and others towards New Spain, in both which the Spaniards then drove a great trade. Upon those coasts they found great numbers of trading vessels, and often ships of great burden. Two of the biggest of these vessels, and two great ships which the Spaniards had laden with plate in the port of Campeachy, to go to the Carac- cas, they took in less than a month's time, and carried to Tor- tuga, where the people of the whole island, encouraged by their success, especially seeing in two years the riches of the country so much increased, they augmented the number of pi- rates so fast, that in a little time there were, in that small island and port, above twenty ships of this sort of people. Hereupon the Spaniards, not able to* bear their robberies any longer, equipped two large men-of-war, both for the defence of thuil own coasts and to cruise upon the enemies.

THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 51

CHAPTER VII.

How the Pirates arm their Vessels, and regulate their Voyages.

Before the pirates go to sea, they give notice to all con- cerned of the day on which they are to embark, obliging each man to bring so many pounds of powder and ball as they think necessary. Being all come aboard, they consider where to get provisions, especially flesh, seeing they scarce eat any thing else, and of this the most common sort is pork. The next food is tortoises, which they salt a little. Sometimes they rob such or such hog-yards, where the Spaniards often- have a thousand heads of swine together. They come to these places in the night, and having beset the keeper's lodge, they force him to rise, and give them as many heads as they desire, threatening to kill him if he refuses or makes any noise. And these menaces are oftentimes executed on the miserable swine-keepers, or any other person that endeavors to hinder their robberies.

Having got flesh sufficient for their voyage, they return to their ship. Here they allow, twice a day, every one as much as he can eat, without weight or measure ; nor does the stew- ard of the vessel give any more flesh, or any thing else, to the captain, than to the meanest mariner. The ship being well victualled, they deliberate whither they shall go to seek their desperate fortunes, and likewise agree upon certain articles, which are put in writing, which every one is bound to observe ; and all of them, or the chiefest part, do set their hands to it. Here they set down distinctly what sums of money each par- ticular person ought to have for that voyage, the fund of all the payments being what is gotten by the whole expedition ; for otherwise it is the same law among these people as with other pirates: no prey, no pay. First, therefore, they mention how much the captain is to have for his ship ; next, the salary of the carpenter, or shipwright, who careened, mended, and rigged the vessel. This commonly amounts to one hundred or one hundred and fifty pieces of eight, according to the agreement. Afterwards, for provisions and victualling, they draw out of the same common stock about two hundred pieces of eight ; also a salary for the surgeon, and his chest of medicaments, which usually is rated at two hundred or two hundred and fifty pieces of eight. Lastly, they agree what rate each one ought to have that is either wounded or maimed in his body, suffering the

52 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA.

loss of any limb ; as, for the loss of a right, arm, six hundred pieces of eight, or six slaves ; for the left arm, five hundred pieces of eight, or five slaves ; for a right leg, five hundred pieces of eight, or five slaves; for the left leg, four hundred pieces of eight, or four slaves ; for an eye, one hundred pieces of eight, or one slave ; for a finger, the same as for an eye ; all which sums are taken out of the common stock of what is gotten by their piracy, and a very exact and equal dividend is made of the remainder. They have also regard to qualities and places. Thus the captain, or chief, is allotted five or six portions to what the ordinary seamen have ; the master's mate only two, and other officers proportionably to their employ ; after which, they draw equal parts, from the highest to the lowest mariner, the boys not being omitted, who draw half a share ; because, when they take a better vessel than their own, it is the boys' duty to fire their former vessel, and then retire to the prize.

They observe among themselves very good orders ; for in the prizes which they take, it is severely prohibited, to every one, to take any thing to themselves. Hence all they take is equally divided, as hath been said before. Yea, they take a solemn oath to each other, not to conceal the least thing they find among the prizes ; and if any one is found false to the said oath, he is immediately turned out of the society. They are very civil and charitable to each other, so .that if any one wants what another has, with great willingness they give it one to another. As soon as these pirates have taken a prize, they immediately set ashore the prisoners, detaining only some few, for their own help and service; whom, also, they release after two or three years. They refresh themselves at one island or another, but especially at those on the south of Cuba. Here they careen their vessels, while some hunt, and others cruise in canoes for prize. Many times they take the poor tor- toise fishermen, and make them work during their pleasure.

In the several parts of America are found four distinct spe- cies of tortoises. The first are so great, that they weigh two or three thousand pounds. The scales are so soft, that they may be cut with a knife. But these are not good to eat. The second sort is of an indifferent bigness, and of a green color ; their scales are harder than the first, and of a very pleasant taste. The third is little different in size from the second, only the head something bigger. It is called by the French, cavana, and is not good meat. The fourth is named caret, being very like those of Europe. This sort keeps commonly among the rocks, whence they crawl out for their food, which

THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 53

is generally sea-apples; those other above mentioned feed on grass, which grows in the water on the sandy banks; these banks or shelves, for their pleasant green, resemble the delight- ful meadows of the United Provinces. Their eggs are almost like those of the crocodile, but without any shell, being only covered with a thin film; they are found in such prodigious quantities along the shores, that were they not frequently de- stroyed by birds, the sea would abound with tortoises.

These creatures have certain places where they lay their eggs every year; the chief are the three islands called Caymanes, in 20° 15', lat., being 45 leagues north of Cuba.

It is worth considering how the tortoises find these islands; for the greatest part come from the Gulf of Honduras, 150 leagues off, and many times the ships having lost their altitude, from the darkness of the weather, steer only by the noise the tortoises make in swimming, and reach those isles. When the season of hatching is past, they retire to Cuba, which affords them good food ; but while they are at the Caymanes, they eat little or nothing. When they have been a month in the seas of Cuba, and are grown fat, the Spaniards fish for them, being then to be taken in such abundance, that they furnish their cities, towns, and villages with them. The way they take them is, by making with a great nail a kind of dart ; this they fix at the end of a long pole, with which they kill the tortoises whenever they appear above the water.

The inhabitants of New Spain and Campeachy lade their best merchandise in ships of great bulk : the vessels from Campeachy sail in the winter to Caraccas, Trinity Isles, and that of Marga- rita, and return back again in the summer. The pirates know- ing these seasons, (being very diligent in their inquiries,) always cruise between the places above mentioned ; but in case they light of no considerable booty, they commonly undertake some more hazardous enterprises, one remarkable instance of which I shall here give you. A certain pirate called Pierre Francois, or Peter Francis, waiting a long time at sea with his boat and twenty-six men, for the ships that were to return from Mara- caibo to Campeachy, and not being able to find any prey, at last he resolved to direct his course to Rancheiras, near the River de la Plata, in 12° and a half north latitude. Here lies a rich bank of pearl, to the fishery whereof they yearly sent from Carthagena twelve vessels with a man-of-war for their defence. Every vessel has at least two negroes in it, who are very dex- terous in diving to the depth of six fathoms, where they find good store of pearls. On this fleet, called the pearl-fleet, Pierre Francois resolved to venture, rather than to go home empty : 5*

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Bartholomew l'ortujrues.

THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 55

they then rode at anchor at the mouth of the River de la Harha, the man-of-war scarce half a league distant from the small ships, and the wind very calm. Having spied them in this posture, he presently pulled down his sails and rowed along the coast, feigning to be a Spanish vessel come from Maracaibo ; but no sooner was he come to the pearl-bank, when suddenly he assaulted the vice-admiral of eight guns and sixty men, com- manding them to surrender. The Spaniards made a good defence for some time, but at last were forced to submit. Having thus taken the vice-admiral, he resolved to attempt the man-of-war, with which addition he hoped to master the rest of the fleet : to this end he presently sunk his own boat, putting forth the Spanish colors, and weighed anchor with a little wind which then began to stir, having with threats and promises compelled most of the Spaniards to assist him. But so soon as the man-of-war perceived one of his fleet to sail, he did so too, fearing lest the mariners designed to run away with the riches they had on board. The pirate on this immediately gave over the enterprise, thinking themselves unable to encounter force to force. Hereupon they endeavored to get out of the river and gain the open seas, by making as much sail as they could; which the man-of-war perceiving, he presently gave them chase ; but the pirates having laid on too much sail, and a gust of wind suddenly rising, their mainmast was brought by the board, which disabled them from escaping. -

This unhappy event much encouraged those in the man-of- war, they gaining upon the pirates every moment, and at last overtook .them ; but they finding they had twenty-two sound men, the rest being either killed or wounded, resolved to defend themselves as long as possible ; this they performed very cour- ageously for some time, till they were forced by the man-of- war, on condition that they should not be used as slaves to carry stones, or be employed in other labors for three or four years, as they served their negroes, but that they should be set safe ashore on free land. On these articles they yielded with all they had taken, which was worth, in pearls alone, above one hundred thousand pieces of eight, besides the vessel, provisions, goods, &c. All which would have made this a greater prize than he could desire, which he had certainly carried off, if his mainmast had not been lost; as we said before.

Another bold attempt like this, nor less remarkable, I shall also give yon. A certain pirate of Portugal, thence called Bar- tholomew Portugues, was cruising in a boat of thirty men and four small guns from Jamaica, upon the Cape de Corriente, in Cuba, where he met a great ship from Maracaibo and Cartha-

56 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA.

gena, bound for the Havana, well provided with twenty great guns and seventy men, passengers and mariners ; this ship he presently assaulted, which they on board as resolutely defended. The pirate escaping the first encounter, resolved to attack her more vigorously than before, seeing he had yet suffered no great damage: this he performed with so much resolution, that at last, after a long and dangerous fight, he became master of it. The Portuguese lost only ten men, and had four wounded ; so that he had still remaining twenty fighting men, whereas the Spaniards had double the number. Having possessed them- selves of the ship, the wind being contrary to return to Jamai- ca, they resolved to steer to Cape St. Anthony, (which lies west of Cuba,) there to repair and take in fresh water, of which they were then in great want.

Being very near the cape above said, they unexpectedly met with three great ships coming from New Spain, and bound for the Havana ; by these, not being able to escape, they were easily retaken, both ship and pirates, and all made prisoners, and stripped of all the riches they had taken but just before. The cargo consisted in one hundred and twenty thousand weight of cocoa nuts, the chief ingredient of chocolate, and seventy thousand pieces of eight. Two days after this misfortune, there arose a great storm, which separated the ships from one another. The great vessel, where the pirates were, arrived at Cam peachy, where many considerable merchants came and saluted the captain ; these presently knew the Portuguese pirate, being infamous for the many insolencies, robberies, and murders he had committed on their coasts, which they kept fresh in their memory.

The next day after their arrival, the magistrates of the city sent to demand the prisoners from on board the ship, in order to punish them according to their deserts ; but fearing the cap- tain of the pirates should make his escape, (as he had formerly done, being their prisoner once before,) they judged it safer to leave him guarded on shipboard for the present, while they erected a gibbet to hang him on the next day, without any other process than to lead him from the ship to his punishment ; the rumor of which was presently brought to Bartholomew Portugues, whereby he sought all possible means to escape that night. With this design he took two earthen jars, wherein the Spaniards carry wine from Spain to the West Indies, and stopped them very well, intending to use them for swimming, as those unskilled in that art do corks or empty bladders. Hav- ing made this necessary preparation, he waited when all should be asleep ; but not being able to escape his sentinel's vigilance,

THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 57

he stabbed him with a knife he had secretly purchased, and then threw himself into the sea with the earthern jars before mentioned ; by the help of which, though he never learned to swim, he reached the shore, and immediately took to the woods, where he hid himself for three days, not daring to ap- pear, eating no other food than wild herbs.

Those of the city next day made diligent search for him in the woods, where they concluded him to be. This strict in- quiry Portugues saw from the hollow of a tree, wherein he lay hid ; and upon their return he made the best of his way to Del Golpho Triste, forty leagues from Campeachy, where he arrived within a fortnight after his escape ; during which time, as also afterwards, he endured extreme hunger and thirst, having no other provision with him than a small calabaca with a little water, besides the fears of falling again into the hands of the Spaniards. He ate nothing but a few shell fish, which he found among the rocks near the sea-shore ; and being obliged to pass some rivers, not knowing well how to swim, he found at last an old board, which the waves had driven ashore, where- in were a few great nails ; these he took, and with no small labor whetted on a stone, till he had made them like knives, though not so well ; with these, and nothing else, he cut down some branches of trees, which with twigs and osiers he joined together, and made as well as he could a boat to waft him over the rivers. Thus arriving at the Cape of Golpho Triste, as was said, he found a vessel of pirates, comrades of his own, lately come from Jamaica.

To these he related all his adversities and misfortunes, and withal desired they would fit him with a boat and twenty men, with which company alone he promised to return to Campeachy, and assault the ship that was in the river, by which he had been taken fourteen days before. They presently granted his- request, and equipped him a boat accordingly.. With this small company he set out to execute his design, which he bravely performed eight days after he left Golpho Triste ; for being arrived at Campeachy, with an undaunted courage, and without any noise, he assaulted the said ship. Those on board thought it was a boat from land that came to bring contraband goods, and so were in no posture o'f defence ; which opportunity the pirates laying hold of, assaulted them so resolutely, that in a little time they compelled the Spaniards to surrender.

Being masters of the ship, they immediately weighed anchoi and set sail from the port, lest they should be pursued by othei vessels. This they did with the utmost joy, seeing themselves possessors, of so brave a ship; especially Portugues, who by a

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Roche Brasiliano.

THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 59

second turn of fortune was become rich and powerful again, who was so lately in that same vessel a prisoner, condemned to be hanged: with this purchase he designed greater things, which he might have done, since there remained in the vessel so great a quantity of rich merchandise, though the plate had been sent to the city. But while he was making his voyage to Jamaica, near the Isle of Pinos, on the south of Cuba, a terrible storm arose, which drove against the Jardines Rocks, where she was lost ; but Portugues with his companions escaped in a canoe, in which he arrived at Jamaica, where it was not long ere he went on new adventures, but was never fortunate after.

Nor less considerable are the actions of another pirate who now lives at Jamaica, who on several occasions has performed very surprising things. He was born at Groninghen, in the United Provinces. His own name not being known, his com- panions gave him that of Roche Brasiliano, by reason of his long residence in Brazil ; hence he was forced to fly, when the Portuguese retook those countries from the Dutch, several na- tions then inhabiting at Brazil (as English, French, Dutch, and others) being constrained to seek new fortunes.

This person fled to Jamaica, where being at a stand how to get his living, he entered himself into the society of pirates, where he served as a private mariner for some time, and behaved himself so well, that he was beloved and respected by all. One day some of the mariners quarrelled with their captain, to that degree, that they left the boat. Brasiliano following them, was chose their leader, who having fitted out a small vessel, they made him captain.

Within a few days after, he took a great ship coming from New Spain, which had a great quantity of plate on board, and carried it to Jamaica. This action got him a great reputation at home, and though in his private affairs he governed himself very well, he would oftentimes appear brutal and foolish when in drink, running up and down the streets, beating or wounding those he met, no person daring to make any resistance.

To the Spaniards he was always very barbarous and cruel, out of an inveterate hatred against that nation ; of these he commanded several to be roasted alive on wooden spits, for not showing him hog-yards, where he might steal swine. After many of these cruelties, as he was cruising on the coasts of Cam^ peachy, a dismal tempest surprised him so violently, that his ship was wrecked upon the coasts, the mariners only escaping with their muskets, and some few bullets and powder, which were the only things they could save. The ship was lost between

60 THE BUCCANEEKS OF AMERICA.

Campeachy and the Golpho Triste : here they got ashore in a canoe, and marching along the coast with all the speed they could, they directed their course towards Golpho Triste, the common refuge of the pirates. Being upon his journey, and all very hungry and thirsty, as is usual in desert places, they were pursued by a troop of one hundred Spaniards. Brasiliano perceiving their imminent danger, encouraged his companions, telling them they were better soldiers, and ought rather to die under their arms, fighting as it became men of courage, than surrender to the' Spaniards, who would take away their lives with the utmost torments. The pirates were but thirty, yet seeing their brave commander oppose the enemy with such courage, resolved to do the like ; hereupon they faced the troop of Spaniards, and discharged their muskets on them so dexter- ously, that they killed one horseman almost with every shot. The fight continued for an hour, till at last the Spaniards were put to flight : they stripped the dead and took from them what was most for their use ; such as were also quite dead, they dispatched with the ends of their muskets.

Having vanquished the enemy, they mounted on horses they found in the field, and continued their journey ; Brasiliano having lost but two of his companions in this bloody fight, and had two wounded. Prosecuting their way, before they came to the port they spied a boat at anchor from Campeachy well manned, protecting a few canoes that were lading wood ; here- upon they sent six of their men to watch them, who next morning, by a wile, possessed themselves of the canoes. Hav- ing given notice to their companions, they boarded them, and also took the little man-of-war, their convoy. Being thus mas- ters of this fleet, they wanted only provisions, of which they found little aboard those vessels; but this defect was supplied by the horses which they killed and salted with salt, which by good fortune the woodcutters had brought with them, with which they supported themselves till they could get better.

They took also another ship going from New Spain to -Vlara- caibo, laden with divers sorts of merchandise and pieces of eight, designed to buy cocoa-nuts for their lading home ; all these they carried to Jamaica, where they safely arrived, and, according to custom, wasted all in a few days in taverns and stews, giving themselves to all manner of debauchery. Such of these pirates will spend two or three thousand pieces of eight in a night, not leaving themselves a good shirt to wear in the morning. I saw one of them give a common strumpet five hundred pieces of eight to see her naked. My own master would buy sometimes a pipe of wine, and placing it in the street, would force those

THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 6]

that passed by to drink with him, threatening also to pistol them if they would not. He would do the like with barrels of beer or ale, and very often he would throw these liquors about, the streets, and wet people's clothes, without regarding whether he spoiled their apparel.

Among themselves, these pirates are very liberal. If any one has lost all, which often happens in their manner of life, they freely give him of what they have. In taverns and ale- houses, they have great credit ; but at Jamaica they ought not to run very deep in debt, seeing 'the inhabitants there easily sell one another for debt. This happened to my patron, to be sold for a debt of a tavern, wherein he had spent the greatest part of his money. This man had, within three months before, three thousand pieces of eight in ready cash, all which he wasted in that little time, and became as poor as I have told you.

But to return. Brasiliano. after having spent all, was forced to go to sea again to seek his fortune. He set forth towards the coast of Campeachy, his common rendezvous. Fifteen days after his arrival, he put himself into a canoe*, to espy the port of that city, and see if he could rob any Spanish vessel ; but his fortune was so bad, that both he and all his men were taken and carried before the governor, who immediately cast them into a dungeon, intending to hang them every one ; and doubtless he had done so, but for a stratagem of Brasiliano, which saved their lives. He wrote a letter to the governor, in the names of other pirates that were abroad at sea, telling him, " He should have a care how he used those persons he had in custody ; for if he hurt them in the least, they swore they would never give quarter to any Spaniard that should fall into .their hands."

These pirates having been often at Campeachy, and other places of the West Indies in the Spanish dominions, the gov- erno. feared what mischief their companions abroad might do, if he should punish them. Hereupon he released them, exact- ing only an oath on them, that they would leave their exercise of piracy forever ; and withal he sent them, as common mari- ners in the galleons, to Spain. They got in this voyage, all together, five hundred pieces of eight ; so that they tarried not long there, after their arrival. Providing themselves with necessaries, they returned to Jamaica, from whence they set forth again to sea, committing greater robberies and cruelties than before, but especially abusing the poor Spaniards who fell into 'their hands with all sorts of cruelty.

The Spaniards, finding they could gain nothing on these 6

62 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA.

people, or diminish their number, daily resolved to lessen the, number of their trading ships. But neither was this of any service ; for the pirates, finding few ships at sea, began to gather into companies, and to land on their dominions, ruining cities, towns, and villages ; pillaging, burning, and carrying away as much as they could.

The first pirate who began these invasions by land was Lewis Scot, who sacked the city of Campeachy, which he almost ruined, robbing and destroying all he could; and after he had put it to an excessive ransom, he left it. After Scot, came another, named Mansvelt, who invaded Granada, and penetrated even to the South Sea, till at last, for want of pro- vision, he was forced to go back. He assaulted the Isle of St. Catherine, which he took, with a few prisoners. These directed him to Carthagena, a principal city in Nueva Granada. But the bold attempts and actions of John Davis, born at Jamaica, ought not to be forgotten, being some of the most remarkable ; especially his rare prudence and valor showed in the fore-men- tioned kingdom of Granada. This pirate, having long cruised in the Gulf of Pocatauro, on the ships expected to Carthagena, bound for Nicaragua, and not meeting any of them, resolved -at last to land in Nicaragua, leaving his ship hid on the coast.

This design he soon executed ; for, taking eighty men out of ninety which he had in all, and the rest he left to keep the ship, he divided them equally into three canoes. His intent was to rob the churches, and rifle the houses of the chief citi- zens of Nicaragua. Thus, in the dark night, they entered the river leading to that city, rowing in their canoes. By day they hid themselves and boats under the branches of trees, on the banks, which grow very thick along the river-sides in- those countries, and along the sea-coast. Being arrived at the city the third night, the sentinel, who kept the post of the river, thought them to be fishermen that had been fishing in the lake ; and most of the pirates understanding Spanish, he doubted not, as soon as he heard them speak. They had in their company an Indian, who had run away from his master, who would have enslaved him unjustly. He went first ashore, and instantly killed the sentinel ; this done, they entered the city, and went directly to three or four houses of the chief cit- izens, here they knocked softly. These, believing them to be friends, opened the doors, and the pirates, suddenly possess- ing themselves of the houses, stole all the money and plate they could find. Nor did they spare the churches, and most sacred things, all which were pillaged and profaned, without any respect or veneration.

THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 63

Meanwhile, great cries and lamentations were heard of some who had escaped them ; so that the whole city was iri an up- roar, and all the citizens rallied in order to a defence, which the pirates perceiving, they instantly fled, carrying away their booty and some prisoners. These they led away, that if any of them should be taken by the Spaniards, they might use them for ransom. Thus they got to their ship, and with all speed put to sea, forcing the prisoners, before they let them go, to procure them as much flesh as was necessary for their voy- age to Jamaica. But no sooner had they weighed anchor, when they saw a troop of about five hundred Spaniards, all well armed, at the sea-side. Against these they let fly several guns, wherewith they forced them to quit the sands and retire, with no small regret to see these pirates carry away so much plate of their churches and houses, though distant at least forty leagues from the sea.

These pirates got, on this occasion, above four thousand pieces of eight in money, besides much plate and many jewels, in all to the value of fifty thousand pieces of eight, or more. With all this, they arrived at Jamaica soon after. But this sort of people being never long masters of their money, they were soon constrained to seek more by the same means ; and Captain John Davis, presently after his return, was chosen ad- miral of seven or eight vessels, he being now esteemed an able conductor for such enterprises. He began his new command by directing his fleet to the north of Cuba, there to wait for the fleet from New Spain ; but missing his design, they deter- mined for Florida. Being arrived there, they landed their men and sacked a small city named St. Augustine of Florida. The castle had a garrison of two hundred men, but could not pre- vent the pillage of the city, they effecting it without the least damage from the soldiers or townsmen.

Thus we have spoken, in the first part of this book, of the constitution of Hispaniola and Tortuga, their properties and inhabitants, as also- of the fruits. In the second part, we shall describe the actions of the two most famous pirates, who com- mitted many horrible crimes and inhumanities upon the Spaniards. *

64

THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA.

Francis Lolonois.

THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 65

CHAPTER VIII.

Of the Origin of Francis Lolonois, and the Beginning of his Robberies.

Francis Lolonois was a native of that territory in France which is called Les Sables cfrOlone, or The Sands of Olone. In his youth he was transported to the Caribbee Islands, in quality of servant, or slave, according to custom, of which we have already spoken. Being out of his time, he came to His- paniola. Here he joined for some time with the hunters, be- fore he began his robberies upon the Spaniards, which I shall now relate, till his unfortunate death.

At. first he made two or three voyages as a common mariner, wherein he behaved himself so courageously, as to gain the fa- vor of the governor of Tortuga, Monsieur de La Place ; inso- much that he gave him a ship, in which he might seek his for- tune, which was very favorable to him at first, for in a short time he got great riches. But his cruelties against the Span- iards were such, that the fame of them made him so well known through the Indies, that the Spaniards in his time would choose rather to die or sink fighting, than surrender, knowing they should have no mercy at his hands. But for- tune, being seldom constant, after some time turned her back ; for in a huge storm he lost his ship on the coast of Campeachy. The men were all saved, but, coming upon dry land, the Span- iards pursued them, and killed the greatest part, wounding also Lolonois. Not knowing how to escape, he saved his life by a stratagem. Mingling sand with the blood of his wounds, with which besmearing his face, and other parts of his body, and hiding himself dexterously among the dead, he continued there till the Spaniards quitted the field.

They being gone, he retired to the woods, and bound up his wounds as well as he could. These being pretty well healed, he took his way to Campeachy, having disguised himself in a Spanish habit. Here he enticed certain slaves, to whom he promised liberty, if they would obey. him and trust to his con- duct. They accepted his promises, and, stealing a canoe, they went to sea with him. Now the Spaniards, having made sev- eral of his companions prisoners, kept them close in a dungeon, while Lolonois went about the town, and saw what passed. These%were often asked, " What is become of your captain ?" to whom they constantly answered, " He is dead ; " which rejoiced the Spaniards, who made bonfires, and, knowing noth-

66 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA.

ing to the contrary, gave thanks to God for their deliverance from such a cruel pirate. Lolonois, having seen these rejoicings for his death, made haste to escape, with the slaves above men- tioned, and carne safe to Tortuga, the common refuge of all sorts of wickedness, and the seminary, as it were, of pirates and thieves. Though now his fortune was low, yet he got another ship with craft and subtlety, and in it twenty-one men. Being well provided with arms and necessaries, he set forth for Cuba, on the south whereof is a small village, called De los Cayos. The inhabitants drive a great trade in tobacco, sugar, and hides, and all in boats, not being able to use ships, by rea- son of the little depth of that sea.

Lolonois was persuaded he should get here some considerable prey ; but by the good fortune of some fishermen who saw him, and the mercy of God, they escaped him. For the inhab- itants of the town despatched immediately a messenger over land to the Havana, complaining that Lolonois was come to destroy them, with two canoes. The governor could very hardly believe this, having received letters from Campeachy that he was dead. But, at their importunity,' he sent a ship to their relief, with ten guns, and ninety men, well armed, giving them this express command, that they should not return into his presence, without having totally destroyed those pirates. To this effect, he gave them a negro to serve for a hangman, and orders that they should immediately hang every one of the pirates, excepting Lolonois, their captain, whom they should bring alive to .the Havana. This ship arrived at Cayos, of whose coming the pirates were advertised beforehand, and in- stead of flying, went to seek it in the river Estera, where she rode at anchor. The pirates seized some fishermen, and forced them by night to show them the entry of the port, hoping soon to obtain a greater vessel than their two canoes, and thereby to mend their fortune. They arrived, after two in the morning, very nigh the ship, and the watch on board the ship asking them, " Whence they came, and if they had seen any pirates aboard ? " »they caused one of the prisoners to answer, " They had seen no pirates, nor any thing else ; " which answer made them believe that they were fled upon hearing of their coming.

But they soon found the contrary, for about break of day the pirates assaulted the vessel on both sides, with their two canoes, with such vigor, that, though the Spaniards behaved themselves as they ought, and made as good defence as they could, making some use of their great guns, yet they .were forced to surrender, being beaten by the pirates, with sword in hand, down under the hatches. From hence Lolonois com-

THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 67

manded them to be brought up, one by one, and in this order caused their heads to be struck off. Among the rest came up the negro, designed to be the pirates' executioner. This fellow implored mercy at his hands very dolefully, telling Lolonois he was constituted hangman of that ship, and if he would spare him, he would tell him faithfully all that he should desire. Lolonois, making him confess what he thought fit, commanded him to be murdered with the rest. Thus he cruelly and bar- barously put them all to death, reserving only one alive, whom he sent back to the governor of the Havana, with this mes- sage in writing : " I shall never henceforward give quarter to any Spaniard whatsoever ; and I have great hopes I shall exe- cute on your own person the very same punishment I have done upon them you sent against me. Thus I have retaliated the kindness you designed to me and my companions. The governor, much troubled at this sad news, swore, in the pres- ence of many, that he would never grant quarter to any pirate that should fall into his hands. But the citizens of the Ha- vana desired him not to persist in the execution of that rash and rigorous oath, seeing the pirates would certainly take occa- sion from thence to do the same, and they had a hundred times more opportunity of revenge than he; that, being necessitated to get their livelihood by fishery, they should hereafter always be in danger of their lives. By these reasons he was persuaded to bridle his anger, and remit the severity of his oath.

Now Lolonois had got a good ship, but very few provisions and people in it ; to purchase both which he resolved to cruise from one port to another. Doing thus for some time without success, he determined to go to the port of Maracaibo. Here he surprised a ship laden with plate, and other merchandises, outward bound to buy cocoa-nuts. With this prize he returned to Tortuga, where he was received with joy by the inhabit- ants, they congratulating his happy success, and their own pri- vate interest. He stayed not long there, but designed to equip a fleet sufficient to transport five hundred men and necessaries. Thus provided, he resolved to pillage both cities, towns, and villages, and, finally, to take Maracaibo itself. For this pur- pose he knew the Island of Tortuga would afford him many resolute and courageous men, fit for such enterprises. Besides, he had in his service several prisoners well acquainted with the ways and places designed upon.

68 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA.

CHAPTER IX.

Lolonois equips a Fleet to land upon the Spanish Islands of America, with intent to rob, sack, and burn whatsoever ho met with.

Of this design-, Lolonois giving notice to all the pirates, whether at home or abr6ad, he got together in a little while above four hundred men, beside which, there was then in Tor- tuga another pirate, named Michael de Basco, who, by his pi- racy, had got riches sufficient to live at ease, and go no more abroad, having, withal, the office of major of the island. But seeing the great preparations that Lolonois made for this expe- dition, he joined him, and offered him, that if he would make him his chief captain by land, (seeing he knew the country very well, and all its avenues,) he would share in his fortunes, and go with him. They agreed upon articles, to the great joy of Lolonois, knowing that Basco had done great actions in Eu- rope, and had the repute of a good soldier. Thus they all embarked in eight vessels, that of Lolonois being the greatest, having ten guns of indifferent carriage.

All things being ready, and the whole company on board, they set sail together about the end of April, being in all six hundred and sixty persons. They steered for that part called Bayala, north of Hispaniola. Here they took into their com- pany some French hunters, who voluntarily offered themselves ; and here they provided themselves with victuals and necessa- ries for their voyage.

From hence they sailed again the last of July, and steered directly to the eastern cape of the isle called Punta d'Espada. 'Hereabouts espying a ship from Puerto Rico, bound for New Spain, laden with cocoa-nuts, Lolonois commanded the rest of the fleet to wait for him near Savona, on the east of Cape Punta d'Espada, he alone intending to take the said vessel. The Spaniards, though they had been in sight full two hours, and knew them to be pirates, yet would not flee, but prepared to fight, being well armed and provided. The combat lasted three hours, and then they surrendered. This ship had sixteen guns, and fifty fighting men aboard. They found in her one hun- dred and twenty thousand weight of cocoa, forty thousand pieces of eight, and the value of ten thousand more in jewels. Lolonois sent the vessel presently to Tortuga to be unladed, with orders to return as soon as possible to Savona, where he would wait for them. Meanwhile the rest of the fleet being arrived at

THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 69

Savona, met another Spanish vessel coming from Coman, with military provisions to Hispaniola, and money to pay the garisons there. This vessel . they also took, without any resistance, though mounted with eight guns. In it were seven thousand weight of powder, a great number of muskets, and like things, with twelve thousand pieces of eight.

These successes encouraged the pirates, they seeming very lucky beginnings, especially finding their fleet pretty well re- cruited in a little time : for the first ship arriving at Tortnga, the governor ordered it to be instantly unladen, and soon after sent back, with fresh provisions, and other necessaries, to Lo- lonois. This ship he chose for himself, and gave that which he commanded to his comrade, Anthony du Puis. Being thus recruited with men, in lieu of them he had lost in taking the prizes, and by sickness, he found himself in a good condition to set sail for Maracaibo, in the province of Nueva Venezuela, in. the latitude of 12° 10' north. This island is twenty leagues long, and twelve broad. To this port also belong the islands of Onega and Monges. The east side thereof is called Cape St. Roman, and the western side Cape of Caquibacoa. The gulf is called, by some, the Gulf of Venezuela, but the pi- rates usually called it the Bay of Maracaibo.

At the entrance of this gulf are two islands extending from east to west ; that towards the east is called Isla de las Vigilias, or the Watch Isle; because in the middle is a high hill, on which stands a watch-house ; the other is called Isla de la Pa- lomas, or the Isle of Pigeons. Between these two islands runs a little sea, or rather lake of fresh water, sixty leagues long, and thirty broad ; which disgorging itself into the ocean, dilates itself about the said two islands. Between them is the best passage for ships, the channel being no broader than the flight of a great gun, of about eight pounds. On the Isle of Pigeons standeth a castle, to impede the entry of vessels, all being ne- cessitated to come very nigh the castle, by reason of two banks of sand on the other side, with, only fourteen foot water. Many other banks of sand there are in this lake ; as that called El Tablazo, or the Great Table, no deeper than ten foot, forty leagues within the lake. Others there are, that have no more than six, seven, or eight foot in depth ; all are very dangerous, especially to mariners unacquainted with them. West hereof is the city of Maracaibo, very pleasant to the view, its houses being built along the shore, having delightful prospects all round j the city may contain three or four thousand persons, slaves in- cluded, all which make a town of a reasonable bigness. There are judged to be about eight hundred persons able to bear arms,

70 t;;e buccaneers of AMERICA.

all Spaniards. Here are one parish church, well built and adorned, four monasteries, and one hospital. The city is gov- erned by a deputy-governor, substituted by the governor of tbe Caraccas. The trade here exercised is mostly in hides and tobacco. The inhabitants possess great numbers of cattle, and many plantations which extend thirty leagues in the country, especially towards the great town of Gibraltar, where are gath- ered great quantities of cocoa-nuts, and all other garden-fruits, which serve for the regale and sustenance of the inhabitants of Maracaibo, whose territories are much drier than those of Gib- raltar. Hither those of. Maracaibo send great quantities of flesh, they making returns in oranges, lemons, and other fruits; for the inhabitants of Gibraltar want flesh, their fields not being capable of feeding cows or sheep.

Before Maracaibo is a very spacious and secure port, wherein may be built all sorts of vessels, having great convenience of timber, which may be transported thither at little charge. Nigh the town lies also a small island called Borrica, where they feed great, numbers of goats, which cattle the inhabitants use more for their skins than their flesh or milk; they slight- ing these two, unless while they are tender and young kids. In the fields are fed some sheep, but of a very small size. In some islands of the lake, and in other places hereabouts, are many savage Indians, called, by the Spaniards, bravoes, or wild : these could never be reduced by the Spaniards, being brutish and untamable. They dwell mostly towards the west side of the lake, in little huts built on trees growing in the water; so to keep themselves from the innumerable mosquitoes, or gnats, which infest and torment them night and day. To the east of the said lake are whole towns of fishermen, who likewise live in huts built on trees, as the former. Another reason of this dwelling, is the frequent inundations : for after great rains, the land is often overflown for two or three leagues, there being no less than twenty-five great rivers that feed this lake. The town of Gibraltar is also frequently drowned by these, so that the inhabitants are constrained to retire to their plantations.

Gibraltar, situate at the side of the lake, about forty leagues within it, receives its provisions of flesh, as has been said, from Maracaibo. The town is inhabited by about fifteen hundred persons, whereof four hundred may bear arms ; the greatest part of them keep shops, wherein they exercise one trade or other. In the adjacent fields are numerous plantations of sugar and cocoa, in which are many tall and beautiful trees, of whose .timber houses may be built, and ships. Among these are many haudsome and proportionable cedars, seven or eight foot about,

THE BUCCANEERS uF AMERICA. 71

of which they build boats and ships, so as to bear one only great sail ; such vessels being called periagues. The whole country is well furnished with rivers "and brooks, very useful in droughts, being then cut into many little channels to water their fields and plantations. They plant also much tobacco, well esteemed in Europe, and, for its goodness, is called there tobacco de sacerdotes, or priests' tobacco. They enjoy nigh twenty leagues of jurisdiction, which is bounded by very high mountains, perpetually covered with snow. On the other side of these mountains is situate a great city called Merida, to which the town of Gibraltar is subject. All merchandise is carried hence to the aforesaid city on mules, and that but at one season of the year, by reason of the excessive cold in those high moun- tains. On the said mules returns are made in flour of meal, which comes from towards Peru, by the way of Estaffe.

Thus far I thought good to make a short description of the Lake of Maracaibo, that my reader might the better comprehend what I shall say concerning the actions of pirates in this place, as follows.

Lolonois arriving at the Gulf of Venezuela, cast anchor with his whole fleet out of sight of the Vigilia or Watch Isle ; next day very early he set sail thence with all his ships for the Lake of Maracaibo, where they cast anchor again ; then they landed their men, with design to attack first *the fortress that com- manded the bar, therefore called De la Barra. This fort con- sists only of several great baskets of earth placed on a rising ground, planted with sixteen great guns, with several other heaps of earth round about for covering their men. The pirates having landed a league off this fort, advanced by degrees towards it ; but the governor having espied their landing, had placed an ambuscade to cut them off behind, while he should attack them in front. This the pirates discovered, and getting before, they defeated it so entirely, that not a man could retreat to the castle. This done, Lolonois, with his companions, advanced immediately to the fort, and after a fight of almost three hours, with the usual desperation of this sort of people, they became masters thereof, without any other arms than swords and pistols. While they were fighting, those who were the routed ambus- cade, not being able to get into the castle, retired into Maracaibo in great confusion and disorder, crying, " The pirates will pres- ently be here with two thousand men and more." The city having formerly been taken by this kind of people, and sacked to the uttermost, had still an idea of that misery; so that upon these dismal news they endeavored to escape towards Gibraltar in their boats and canoes, carrying with them all the goods and

72 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMEP.ICA.

money they could. Being come to Gibraltar, they told how the fortress was taken, and nothing had been saved, nor any persons escaped.

The castle thus taken by the pirates, they presently signified to the ships their victory, that they should come farther in with- out fear of danger: the rest of that day was spent in ruining and demolishing the said castle. They nailed the guns, and burnt as much as they could not carry away, burying the dead, and sending on board the fleet the wounded. Next day, very early, they weighed anchor, and steered all together towards Maracaibo, about six leagues distant from the fort ; but the wind failing that day, they could advance little, being forced to expect the tide. Next morning they came in sight of the town, and prepared for landing under the protection of their own guns, fearing the Spaniards might have laid an ambuscade in the woods : they put their men into canoes, brought for that purpose, and landed where they thought most convenient, shoot- ing still furiously with their great guns. Of those in the canoes, half only went ashore, the other half remained aboard; they fired from the ships as fast as possible towards the woody part of the shore, but could discover nobody ; then they entered the town, whose inhabitants, as I told you, were retired to the wood and Gibraltar, with their wives, children, and families. Their houses they left*well provided with victuals, as flour, bread, pork, brandy, wines, and poultry. With these the pirates fell to making good cheer, for in four weeks before they had no opportunity of filling their stomachs with such plenty.

They instantly possessed themselves of the best houses in the town, and placed sentinels wherever they thought convenient ; the great church served them for their main-guard. Next day. they sent out one hundred and sixty men to find out some of the inhabitants in the woods thereabouts ; these returned the same night, bringing with them twenty thousand pieces of eight, sev- eral mules laden with household goods and merchandise, and twenty prisoners, men, women, and children. Some of these were put to the rack, to make them confess where they had hid the rest of their goods ; but they could extort very little from them. Lolonois, who valued not murdering; though in cold blood, ten or twelve Spaniards, drew his cutlass, and hacked one to pieces before the rest, saying, "If you do not confess and declare where you have hid the rest of your goods, I will do the like to all your companions." At last, amongst these horrible cruelties and inhuman threats, one promised to show the place where the rest of the Spaniards were hid; but those that were fled, hav- ing intelligence of it, changed place, and buried the remnant

THE BUCCANEEKS OF AMERICA. 73

of their riches under ground, so that the pirates could not find them out, unless some of their own party should reveal them ; besides, the Spaniards flying from one place to another every day. and often changing woods, were jealous even of each oth- er, so as the father durst scarce trust his own son.

After the pirates had been fifteen days in Maracaibo, thev resolved for Gibraltar ; but the inhabitants having received in- telligence thereof, and. that they intended afterwards to go to Merida, gave notice of it to the governor there, who was a valiant soldier, and had been an officer in Flanders. His an- swer was : He would have them take no care, for he hoped, in a little while to exterminate the said pirates. Whereupon he came to Gibraltar with four hundred men well armed, ordering at the same time the inhabitants to put themselves in arms, so that in all he made eight hundred fighting men. With the same speed he raised a battery towards the sea, mounted with twenty guns, covered with great baskets of earth ; another bat- tery he placed in another place, mounted with eight guns. This done, he barricadoed a narrow passage to the town through which the pirates must pass, opening at the same time another through much dirt and mud into the wood, totally unknown to the pirates.

The pirates, ignorant of these preparations, having embarked all their prisoners and booty, took their way towards Gibraltar. Being come in sight of the place, they saw the royal standard hanging forth, and that those of the town designed to defend their houses. Lolonois, seeing this, called a council of war what they ought to do, telling his officers and mariners, " that the difficulty of the enterprise was very great, seeing the Spaniards had had so much time -to put themselves in a posture of defence, and had got a good body of men together, with much ammunition; but notwithstanding," said he, "have a good courage ; we must either defend ourselves like good soldiers, or lose our lives with all the riches we have got. Do as I shall do who am your captain. At other times we have fought with fewer men than we have in our company at present, and yet we have overcome greater numbers than there possibly can be in this town ; the more they are, the more glory, and the greater riches, we shall gain." The pirates supposed that all the riches of the inhabitants of Maracaibo were transported to Gibraltar, or at least the greatest part. After this speech, they all promised to follow and 'obey him. Lolonois made answer, " 'Tis well ; but know ye, withal, that the first man who shall show any fear, or the least apprehension thereof, I will pistol him with my own hands." 7

74

THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA.

With this resolution they cast anchor nigh the shore, neat three quarters of a league from the town : next day, before sun- rising, they landed three hundred and eighty men well provided, and armed every one with a cutlass and one or two pistols, and sufficient powder and bullet for thirty charges. Here they all shook hands in testimony of good courage, and began their march, Lolonois speaking thus: " Come, my brethren, follow me, and have good courage." They followed their guide, who, believing he led them well, brought them to the way which the governor had barricadoed. Not being able to pass that way, they went to the other newly made in the wood, among the mire, which the Spaniards could shoot into at pleasure ; but the pirates, full of courage, cut down the branches of trees, and threw them on the way, that they might not stick in the dirt. Meanwhile, those of Gibraltar fired with their great guns, so furiously, they could scarce hear nor see for the noise and smoke. Being past the wood, they came on firm ground, where they met with a battery of six guns, which immediately the Spaniards discharged upon them, all loaded with small bul- lets and pieces of iron ; and the Spaniards, sallying forth, set upon them with such fury as caused the pirates to give way, few of them caring to advance towards the fort, many of them being already killed and wounded. This made them go back to seek another way ; but the Spaniards having cut down many trees to hinder the passage, they could find none, but were forced to return to that they had left. Here the Spaniards continued to fire as before, nor would they sally out of their batteries to attack them anymore. Lolonois and his companions not being able to grimp up the baskets of earth, were compelled to use an old stratagem, wherewith at last they deceived and overcame the Spaniards.

Lolonois retired suddenly with all his men, making show as if he fled. Hereupon the Spaniards, crying out, " They flee, they flee, let us follow them," sallied forth, with great disorder, to the pursuit. Being drawn to some distance from the bat- teries, which was the pirates' only design, they turned upon them unexpectedly, with sword in hand, and killed above two hundred men ; and thus fighting their way through those who remained, they possessed themselves of the batteries. The Spaniards that remained abroad, givi.ig themselves over for lost, fled to the woods ; those in the battery of eight guns surren- dered themselves, obtaining quarter for their lives. The pirates being now become masters of the town, pulled down the- Span- ish colors and set up their own, taking prisoners as many as they could find. These they carried to the great church,

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Capture of Gibraltar.

76 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA.

where they raise a battery of several great guns, fearing lest the Spaniards that were fled should rally, and come upon them again ; but next day; being all fortified, their fears were over. They gathered the dead to bury them, being above five hun- dred Spaniards, besides the wounded in the town, and those that died of their wounds in the woods. The pirates had also above one hundred and fifty prisoners, and nigh five hundred slaves, many women and children.

Of their own companions, only forty were killed, and almost eighty wounded, whereof the greatest part died through the bad air', which brought fevers and other illness. They put the slain Spaniards into two great boats, and carrying them a quar- ter of a league to sea, they sunk the boats ; this done, they gathered all the plate, household stuff, and merchandise they could, or thought convenient, to carry away. The Spaniards who had any thing left had hid it carefully ; but the unsatisfied pirates, not contented with the riches they had got, sought for more goods and merchandise, not sparing those who lived in the fields, such as hunters and planters. They had scarce been eighteen days on the place, when the greatest part of the pris- oners died for hunger; for in 'the town were few provis- ions, especially of flesh, though they had some, but no suffi- cient quantity of flour of meal, and this the pirates had taken for themselves, as they also took the swine, cows, sheep, and poultry, without allowing any share to the poor prisoners; for these they only provided some small quantity of mules' and asses' flesh ; and many, who could not eat of that loathsome pro- vision, died for hunger, their stomachs not being accustomed to such sustenance ; only some women were allowed better cheer, because they served their sensual delights, to which those rob- bers are much given. Among these, some had been forced, others were volunteers, though almost all rather submitted through poverty and hunger, than any other cause. Of the prisoners, many also died under the torment they sustained to make them discover their money or jewels ; and of these, some had none, nor knew of none, and others, denying what they knew, endured such horrible deaths.

Finally, after having been in possession of the town four en- tire weeks, they sent four of the prisoners to the Spaniards that were fled to the woods, demanding of them a ransom for not burning the town. The sum demanded was ten thousand pieces of eight, which if not sent, they threatened to reduce it to ashes. For bringing in this money, they allowed them only two days ; but the Spaniards not having been able to gather so punctually such a sum, the pirates fired many places of the

THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA. 77

town ; whereupon the inhabitants begged them to help quench the fire, and the ransom should be readily paid. The pirates condescended, helping as much as they could to stop the fire ; but, notwithstanding all their best endeavors, one part of the town was ruined, especially the church belonging to the monas- tery was burned down. After they had received the said sum, they carried aboard all the riches they had got, with a great number of slaves which had not paid the ransom ; for all the prisoners had sums of money set upon them, and the slaves were also commanded to be redeemed. Hence they returned to Maracaibo, where, being arrived, they found a general . con- sternation in the whole city, to which they sent three or four prisoners, to tell the governor and inhabitants, " they should bring them thirty thousand pieces of eight aboard their ships, for a ransom of their houses, otherwise they should be sacked anew and burned."

Among these debates, a party of pirates came on shore, and carried away the images, pictures, and bells of the great church, aboard the fleet. The Spaniards who were sent to demand the sum aforesaid, returned, with orders to make some agreement, who concluded with the pirates to give for their ransom and liberty twenty thousand pieces of eight, and five hundred cows, provided that they should commit no further hostilities, but depart thence presently after payment of money and cattle. The one and the other being delivered, the whole fleet set sail, causing great joy to the inhabitants of Maracaibo, to see them- selves quit of them. But three days after they renewed their fears with admiration, seeing the pirates appear again, and re- enter the port with all their ships. But these apprehensions vanished upon hearing one of the pirates' errand, who came ashore from Lolonois, " to demand a skilful pilot, to conduct one of the greatest ships over the dangerous bank that lieth at the very entry of the lake ; " which petition, or rather com- mand, was instantly granted.

They had now been full two months in those towns, wherein they committed those cruel and insolent actions we have related. Departing thence, they took their course to His- paniola, and arrived there in eight days, casting anchor in a port called Isla de la Vacca, or Cow Island. This island is inhabited by French Buccaneers, who mostly sell the flesh they hunt to pirates and others who now and then put in there to victual or trade. Here they unloaded their whole cargazon of riches, the usual storehouse of the pirates being commonly under the shelter of the Buccaneers. Here they made a divi- dend of all their prizes and gains, according to the order and 7#

THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA.

degree of every one, as has been mentioned before. Having made an exact calculation of all their plunder, they found in ready money two hundred and sixty thousand pieces of eight. This being divided, every one received for his share in money, as also in silk, linen, and other commodities, to the value of above one hundred pieces of eight. Those who had been wounded received their first part, after the rate mentioned be- fore, for the loss of their limbs. Then they weighed all the plate uncoined, reckoning ten pieces of eight to a pound. The jewels were prized differently, either too high or too low, by reason of their ignorance. This done, every one was put to his oath again, that he had not smuggled any thing from the common stock. Hence they proceeded to the dividend of the shares of such as were dead in battle, or otherwise. These shares were given to their friends, to be kept entire for them, and to be delivered in due time to their nearest relations, or their apparent lawful heirs.

The whole dividend being finished, they set sail for Tor- tuga. Here they arrived a month after, to the great joy of most of the island ; for as to the common pirates, in three weeks they had scarce any money left, having spent it all in things of little value, or lost it at play. Here had arrived, not long before them, two French ships, with wine and brandy, and such like commodities, whereby these liquors, at the arri- val of the pirates, were indifferent cheap. But this lasted not long, for soon after they were enhanced extremely, a gallon of brandy being sold for four pieces of eight. The governor of the island bought of the pirates the whole cargo of the shir laden with cocoa, giving for that rich commodity scarce the twentieth part of its worth. Thus they made shift to lose and spend the riches they had got, in much less time than they were purchased. The taverns and stews, according to the cus- tom of pirates, got the greatest part ; so that soon after they were forced to seek more by the same unlawful means they haa got the former. '

CHAPTER X.

Lolonois makes new Preparations to take the City of St. James de Leon, as also that of Nicaragua, where he miserably perishes.

Lolonois had got great repute at Tortuga, by this last voy- age, because he brought home such considerable profit : and

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now he need take no great care .to gather men to serve under him, more coming in voluntarily than Jhe could employ, every one reposing such confidence in his conduct, that they judged it very safe to expose themselves, in his company, to the great- est dangers. He resolved, therefore, a second voyage to the parts of Nicaragua, to pillage there as many towns as he could. Having published his new preparations, he had all his men together at the time, being about seven hundred. Of these he put three hundred aboard the ship he took at Maracaibo, and the rest in five other vessels of lesser burthen, so that they were in all six ships. The first port they went to was Bay aha, in Hispaniola, to victual the fleet, and take in provisions; which done, they steered their course to a port called Matamana, on the south side of Cuba, intending to take here all the canoes they could, these coasts being frequented by the fishers of tor- toises, who carry them hence to the Havana. They took as many of them, to the great grief of those miserable people, as they thought necessary, Tor tliey had great use for these small bottoms, by reason the port they designed for had not depth enough for ships of any burthen. Hence they took their course towards the Cape Gracias a Dios, on the continent, in latitude 15° north, one hundred leagues from the Island de los Pinos. Being at sea, they were taken with a sad and tedious calm, and. by the agitation of the waves alone, were thrown into the Gulf of Honduras. Here they labored hard in vain to regain what they had lost, both the waters and the winds being contrary; besides, the ship wherein Lolonois was em- barked could not follow the rest, and, what was worse, they wanted provisions. Hereupon, they were forced to put into the first port they could reach, to revictual. So they entered, with their canoes, into the River Xagua, inhabited by Indians, whom they totally destroyed, finding great quantities of millet, and many hogs and hens, not contented with which, they de- termined to remain there till the bad weather was over, and to pillage all the towns and villages along the coast of the gulf. Thus they passed from one place to another, seeking still more provisions, with which they were not sufficiently supplied. Having searched and rifled many villages, where they found no great matter, they came at last to Puerto Cavallo. Here the Spaniards have two store-houses, to keep the merchandises that are brought from the inner parts of the country, till the arrival. of the ships. There was then in the port a Spanish ship of twenty-four guns and sixteen pedreros, or mortar-pieces. This ship was immediately seized by the pirates, and then drawing nigh the shore, they landed and burned the two storehouses

SO THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA.

with all the rest of the houses there. Many inhabitants, like- wise, they took prisoners, and committed upon them the most inhuman cruelties that ever heathens invented, putting them to the cruellest tortures they could devise. It was the custom of Lolonois, that having tormented persons not confessing, he would instantly cut them in pieces with his hanger, and pull out their tongues, desiring to do so, if possible, to every Span- iard in the world. It often happened, that some of these mis- erable prisoners, being forced by the rack, would promise to discover the places where the fugitive Spaniards lay hid, which being not able afterwards to perform, they were put to more cruel deaths than they who were dead before.

The prisoners being all dead but two, (whom they reserved to show them what they desired,) they marched hence to the town of San Pedro, or St. Peter, ten or twelve leagues from Puerto Cavallo, being three hundred men, whom Lolonois led, leaving behind him Moses Van Vin, his lieutenant, to govern the rest in his absence. Being come three leagues on their way, they met with a troop of Spaniards, who lay in ambus- cade for their coming. These they set upon with all the cour- age imaginable, and at last totally defeated. Howbeit, they behaved themselves very manfully at first, but not being able to resist the- fury of the pirates, they were forced to give way and save themselves by flight, leaving many pirates dead in the place, some wounded, and some of their own party maimed, by the way. These Lolonois put to death without mercy, having asked them what questions he thought fit for his purpose.

There were still remaining some few prisoners not wounded. These were asked by Lolonois if any more Spaniards did lie farther on in ambuscade ? They answered, there were. Then being brought before him, one by one, he asked if there was no other way to the town but that ? This he did to avoid, if possible, those ambuscades. But they all constantly answered him, they knew none. Having asked them all, and finding they could show him no other way, Lolonois grew outrage- ously passionate, so that he drew his cutlass, and with it cut open the breast of one of those poor Spaniards, and, pulling out his heart, began to bite and gnaw it with his teeth, like a ravenous wolf, saying to the rest, " I will serve you all alike, if you show me not another way."

Hereupon those miserable wretches promised to show him another way; but, withal, they told him it was extremely dif- ficult, and laborious. Thus, to satisfy that cruel tyrant, they began to lead him and his army ; but finding it not for his pur- pose, as they had told him, he was forced to return to the

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former way, swearing, with great choler and indignation, Mort Dieu, les Espagnols me le payeront. By God's death, the Spaniards shall pay me for this.

Next day he fell into another ambuscade, which he assaulted with such horrible fury, that in less than an hour's time he routed the Spaniards, and killed the greatest part of them. The Spaniards thought by, these ambuscades better to destroy the pirates, assaulting them by degrees ; and for this reason had posted themselves in several places. At last he met with a third ambuscadej where was placed a party stronger, and more advantageously, than the former. Yet, notwithstanding, the pirates, by continually throwing little fire-balls in great num- bers,- for some time, forced this party as well as the former to flee, and this with so great loss of men, that before they could reach the town, the greatest part of the Spaniards were either killed or wounded. There was but one path which led to the town, very well barricadoed with good defences ; and the rest of the town round was planted with shrubs called raqueltes, full of thorns very sharp-pointed. This sort of fortification seemed stronger than the triangles used in Europe, when an army is of necessity to pass by the place of an enemy ; it being almost impossible for the pirates to traverse those shrubs. The Spaniards posted behind the said defences, seeing the pirates come, began to ply them with their great guns; but these perceiving them ready to fire, used to stoop down, and when the shot was made, to fall upon the defendants with fire-balls, and naked swords, killing many of the town. Yet, notwithstanding, not being able to advance any farther, they retired for the present. Then they renewed the attack, with fewer men than before, and observing not- to shoot till they were very nigh, they gave the Spaniards a charge so dexterously, that with every shot they killed an enemy.

The attack continuing thus eager on both sides till night, the Spaniards were compelled to hang forth a white flag, and desired to come to a parley. The only conditions they required were, that the pirates should give the inhabitants quarter for two hours. This little time they demanded, with intent to carry away and hide as much of their goods and riches as they could, and to fly to some other neighboring town. Granting this article, they entered the town, and continued there the two hours, without committing the least hostility on the inhabitants ; but no sooner was that time past, than Lolonois ordered that the inhabitants should be followed, and robbed of .all they had carried away; and not only their goods, but their persons like- wise' to be made prisoners ; though the greatest part of their

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merchandise and goods were so hid, as the pirates could not find them, except a few leathern sacks, filled with anil, or indigo.

Having staid here a few days, and, according to their cus- tom, committed most horrid insolencies, they at last quitted the place, carrying away all they possibly could, and reducing the town to ashes. Being come to the sea-side, where they left a party of their own, they found these had been cruising upon the fishermen thereabouts, or who came that way from the River of Guatemala: in this river was also expected a ship from Spain. Finally, they resolved to go towards the islands on the other side of the gulf, there to cleanse and careen their vessels ; but they left two canoes before the coast, or rather the mouth of the River of Guatemala, in order to take the ship, which, as I said, was expected from Spain.

But their chief intent in going'hither was to seek provisions, knowing the tortoises of those places are excellent food. Being arrived, they divided themselves, each party choosing a fit post for that fishery. They undertook to knit nets with the rinds of certain trees called macoa, whereof they make also ropes and cables ; so that no vessel can be in need of such things, if they can but find the said trees. There are also many places where they find pitch in so great abundance, that running down the sea-coasts, being melted by the sun, it congeals in the water in great heaps, like small islands. This pitch is not like that of Europe, but resembles, both in color and shape, that froth of the sea called bitumen. But, in my judgment, this matter is nothing but wax mixed with sand, which stormy weather, and the rolling waves of great rivers, hath cast into the sea. For in those parts arc great quantities of bees, who make their honey in trees, to the bodies of which the honey-comb being fixed, when tempests arise, they are torn away, and by the fury of the winds carried into the sea, as is said. Some naturalists say, that the honey and the wax are separated by the salt water, whence proceeds the good amber. This opinion seems the more probable, because the said amber tastes as wax doth.

But to return to my discourse. The pirates made in those islands all the haste they possibly could to equip their vessels, hearing that the Spanish ship was come which they expected. They spent some time cruising on the coasts of Yucatan, where inhabit many Indians, who seek for the said amber in those seas. And I shall here, by the by, make some short remarks on the manner of living of the Indians, and their religion.

They have now been above one hundred years under the Spaniards, to whom they performed all manner of services ; for

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whensoever any of them needed a slave, or servant, they sent for these to serve them as long as they pleased. By the Span- iards they were initiated in. the principles of the Christian faith and religion, and they sent them every Sunday and holiday a priest to perform divine service among them. Afterwards, for reasons not known, but certainly through temptations of the father of idolatry, the devil, they suddenly cast off the Christian religion, abusing the priest that was sent them. This provoked the Spaniards to punish them, by casting many of the chief into prison. Every one of those barbarians had, and hath still, a god to himself, whom he serves and worships. It is a matter of admiration how they use a child newly born. As soon as it comes into the world, they carry it to the temple : here they make a hole, which they fill with ashes only, on which they place the child naked, leaving it there a whole night alone, not without great danger, no body daring to come near it : mean- while the temple is open on all sides, that all sorts of beasts may freely come in and out. Next day, the father and relations of the infant return to see if the track or step of any animal ap- pears in the ashes : not finding any, they leave the child there till some beast has approached the infant, and left behind him the marks of his feet. To this animal, whatsoever it be, they consecrate the creature newly born, as to its god, which he is bound to worship all his life, esteeming the said beast his patron and protector. They offer to their gods sacrifices of fire, where- in they burn a certain gum, called by them copal, whose smoke smells very deliciously. When the infant is grown up, the parents thereof tell him who he ought to worship, serve, and honor as his own proper god. Then he goes to the temple, where he makes offerings to the said beast. Afterwards, if in the course of his life any one injure him, or any evil happen to him, he complains to that beast and sacrifices to it for re- venge. Hence it often comes, that those who have done the injury of which he complains, are bitten, killed, or otherwise hurt by such animals.

After this superstitious- and idolatrous manner live those miserable and ignorant Indians that inhabit the islands of the Gulf of Honduras; as also many of them on the continent of Yucatan, in the territories whereof are most excellent ports, where those Indians most commonly build their houses. These people are not very faithful to one another, and use strange ceremonies at their marriages. Whensoever any one pretends to marry a young damsel, he first applies himself to her father or nearest relation. He examines him nicely about the manner of cultivating their plantations, and other things at his pleasure.

84 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA.

Having satisfied the questions of his father-in-law, he gives the young man a bow and arrow, with which he repairs to the young maid, and presents her with a garland of green leaves and sweet-smelling flowers ; this she is obliged to put on her nead, and lay aside that which she wore before, it being the custom for virgins to go perpetually crowned with flowers. This garland being received and put on her head, every one of the relations and friends go to advise with others, whether that marriage will be like to be happy or not ; then they meet at the house of the damsel's father, where they drink of a liquor made of maize, or Indian wheat ; and here, before the whole company, the father gives his daughter in marriage to the bride- groom. Next day the bride comes to her mother, and in her presence pulls off the garland, and tears it in pieces with great cries and lamentations. Many other things I could relate of the manner of living and customs of those Indians, but I shall follow my discourse.

Our pirates, therefore, had many canoes of the Indians in the Isle of Sambale, five leagues from the coasts of Yucatan. Here is great quantity of amber, but especially when any storm arises from towards the east ; whence the waves bring many things, and very different. Through this sea no vessels can pass, unless very small, it being too shallow. In the lands that are sur- rounded by this sea, is found much Campeachy wood, and other things that serve for dyeing, much esteemed in Europe, and would be more, if we had the skill of the Indians, who make a dye or tincture that never fades.

The pirates having been in that gulf three months, and re- ceiving advice that the Spanish ship was come, hastened to the port where the ship lay at anchor unlading his merchandise, with design to assault her as soon as possible ; but first, they thought convenient to send away some of their boats to seek for a small vessel also expected, very richly laden with plate, indigo, and cochineal. Meanwhile, the ship's crew having notice that the pirates designed upon them, prepared all things for a good defence, being mounted with forty-two guns, well furnished with arms and other necessaries, and one hundred and thirty fighting men. To Lolonois all this seemed but little, for he assaulted her with great courage, his own ship carrying but twenty-two guns, and having no more than a small saety. or fly-boat, for help. But the Spaniards defended themselves so well, as they forced the pirates to retire ; but the smoke of the powder continuing thick, as a dark fog or mist, with four canoes well manned, they boarded the ship with great agility, and forced the Spaniards to surrender.

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The ship being taken, they found not in her what they thought, being already almost unladen. All they got was only fifty bars of \iron, a small parcel of paper, some earthen jars of wine, and other things of small importance.

Then Lolonois called a council of war, and told them he in- tended for Guatamala. Hereupon they divided into several sentiments, some liking the proposal, and others disliking it, especially a party of them who were but raw in those exercises, and who imagined at their setting forth from Tortuga, that pieces of eight were gathered as easily as pears from a tree ; but finding most things contrary to their expectation, they quitted the fleet and returned ; others affirmed they had rather starve than return home without a great deal of money.

But the major part judging the propounded voyage little to their purpose, separated from Lolonois and the rest. Of these, one Moses Vanclein was ringleader, captain of the ship taken at Puerto Cavallo : this fellow steered for Tortuga, to cruise to and fro in these seas. With him joined another comrade of his, by name Pierre le Picard, who seeing the rest leave Lolonois, thought fit to do the same. These runaways having thus part- ed company, steered homewards, coasting along the continent till they came to Costa Rica ; here they landed a strong party nigh the River Veraguas, and inarched in good order to the town of the same name ; this they took and totally pillaged, though the Spaniards made a strong resistance. They brought away some of the inhabitants as prisoners, with all that they had, which was of no great importance, by reason of the pov- erty of the place, which exerciseth no other trade than working in the mines, where some of the inhabitants constantly attend, while none seek for gold, but only slaves. These they compel to dig and wash the earth in the neighboring rivers, where often they find pieces of gold as big as peas. The pirates gaining in this adventure but seven or eight pound weight of gold, they returned, giving over the design to go to the town of Nata, situate on the coasts of the South Sea, whose inhabitants are rich merchants, and their slaves work in the mines of Veraguas ; being deterred by the multitude of Spaniards gathered on all sides to fall upon them, whereof they had timely advice.

Lolonois, thus left by his companions, remained alone in the

Gulf of Honduras. His ship being too great to get out at the

reflux of those seas, there he sustained great want of provisions,

so as they were constrained to go ashore every day to seek

sustenance, and not finding any thing else, they were forced

to kill and eat monkeys, and other animals, such as they

could find.

8

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At last, in the latitude of the Cape of Gracias a Dios, near a certain little island called De las Pertas, his ship struck on a bank of sand, where it stuck so fast, as no art could get her orF again, though they unladed all the guns, iron, and other weighty- things as much as they could. Hereupon they were forced to break the ship in pieces, and with planks and nails build them- selves a boat to get away; and while they are busy about it, I shall describe the said isles and their inhabitants.

The Islands De las Pertas are inhabited by savage Indians, not having known or conversed with civil people. They are tall and very nimble, running almost as fast as horses ; at div» ing, also, they are very dexterous and hardy. From the bottom of the sea I saw them take up an anchor of six hundred weight, tying a cable to it with great dexterity, and pulling it from a rock. Their arms are made of wood, without any iron point ; but some instead thereof use a crocodile's tooth. They have no bows nor arrows, as the other Indians have, but their com- mon weapon is a sort of lance, a fathom and a half long. Here are many plantations, surrounded with woods, whence they gather abundance of fruits, as potatoes, bananas, racoven, ananas, and many others. They have no houses to dwell in, as at other places in the Indies. Some say they eat human flesh, which is confirmed by what happened when Lolonois was there. Two of his companions, one a Frenchman and the other a Spaniard, went into the woods, where, having straggled a while, a troop of Indians pursued them. They defended themselves as well as they could with their swords, but at last were forced to flee. The nimble Frenchman escaped; but the Spaniard, being not so swift, was taken and heard of no more. Some days after, twelve pirates set forth very well armed to seek their compan- ion, among whom was the Frenchman, who conducted them, and showed them the place where he left him ; here they found that the Indians had kindled a fire, and at a small distance they found a man's bones well roasted, with some pieces of flesh ill- scraped off" the bones, and one hand, which had only two fingers remaining, whence they concluded they had roasted the poor Spaniard.

They marched on, seeking for Indians, and found a great number together, who endeavored to escape, but they overtook some of them, and brought aboard thtsir ships five men and four women ; with these they took much pains to make themselves be understood, and to gain their affections, giving them trifles, as knives, beads, and the like ; they gave them also victuals and drink, but nothing would they taste. It was also observable, that while they were prisoners, they spoke not one word to

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each other ; so that seeing these poor Indians were much afraid, they presented them again with some small things and let them go. When they parted, they made signs they would come again, but they soon forgot their benefactors, and were never heard of more; neither could any notice afterwards be had of these Indians, nor any others in the whole island, which made the pirates suspect that both those that were taken and all the rest of the islanders swam away by night to some little neigh- boring islands, especially considering they could never set eyes on any Indian more, nor any boat or other vessel. Meanwhile the pirates were very desirous to see their long-boat finished out of the timber that struck on the sands ; yet considering their work would be long, they began to cultivate some pieces of ground : here they sowed French beans, which ripened in six weeks, and many other fruits. They had good provision of Spanish wheat, bananas, racoven, and other things; with the wheat they made bread, and baked it in portable ovens, brought with them. Thus they feared not hunger in those desert places, employing themselves thus for five or six months ; which past, and the long-boat finished, they resolved for the River of Nicaragua, to see if they could take some canoes, and return to the said islands for their companions that remained behind, by reason the boat could not hold so many men togeth- er. Hereupon, to avoid disputes, they cast lots, determining who should go or stay.

The lot fell on one half of the people of the lost vessel, who embarked in the long-boat and on the skiff which they had before, the other half remaining ashore. Lolonois having set sail, arrived in few days at the River of Nicaragua. Here that ill fortune assailed him which of long time had been reserved for him, as a punishment due to the multitude of horrible crimes committed in his licentious and wicked life. Here he met with both Spaniards and Indians, Avho jointly setting upon him and his companions, the greatest part of the- pirates were killed on the place. Lolonois, with those that remained alive, had much ado to escape aboard their boats; yet, notwithstanding this great loss, he resolved not to return to those he had left at the Isle of Pertas, without taking some boats, such as he looked for. To this effect he determined to go on to the. coasts of Carthagena ; but God Almighty, the time of his divine justice being now come, had appointed the Indians of Darien to be the instruments and executioners thereof. These Indians of Darien are esteemed as bravoes, or wild savage Indians, by the neighboring Spaniards, who never could civilize them. Hither Lolonois came (brought by his evil conscience, that cried for punishment) thinking to

88 THE BUCCANEERS OF AMERICA.

act his cruelties; but the Indians within a few days after his arrival took him prisoner, and tore him in pieces alive,