Indian Antiquary Vol 49

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 66

62 THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY [ APRIL, 1920 the latter ashore and escaped with the ship. Freeman said that no less than eighty of the pirates died at St. Mary's. In December they sailed thence, the Victoria with 64 guns and 100 men and the Cassandra with 40 guns and 100 men. At Tullear Bay on the west coast of Madagascar +2 they took a French ship of 200 tons and burnt her. Thence they went to St. John's 13 and Dillego (Delagoa Bay] then to Mozambique and to Massaledge, 44 where they parted company, the Victoria, now carrying 220 men, with a small sloop of 20 guns going to St. Mary's and the Cassandra, via the Cape, St. Helena, the Assiento [ Ascension Island ) Fernando Po, and the Island Rube,45 to the Shamblan Keys 46(?) in the West Indies. [India Office Miscellaneous Leiters Received, Vol. 14, No. 162. ] 5-A. Letter from Jamaica to Humphrey Morrice Esq., 12 May 1723. "We have received an account from Portobello by a vessel just arrived from thence that a pirate ship of 40 guns and 140 men was lying about thirty leagues to the windward of Portobello. The ship was the Cassandra formerly taken from Captain Mackray in the East Indies. The last place they came from was the Island of Madagascar, having been from thence five months and halfe. The present Captain of the Pirate ship is named Taylor and he has sent down by a small turtle fishing sloop to Portobello, the Doctor of the Pirate ship desiring a pardon. This letter wous delivered to the Commander (Captain Laws] of the Mermaid man-of-war, whom he, the Doctor, informed that the Captain of the Pirate ship was not above twelve leagues distance, and he believed if the Captain of the man-of-war would send up an hostage that the Captain of the Pirate would come down aboard the manof-war, which was readily consented to and the Captain of the man-of-war sent down his brother. Two days after the Captain of the Pirate ship came down aboard the man-of-war and was very solicitous for a pardon. The Captain of the man-of-war treated the Captain of the Pirate very civilly and persuaded him to bring down his ship and go with him to Jamaica and he would not molest him. After two days' stay the Captain of the Pirate ship went to his Concerts to prevail with them to surrender to the Captain of the Mermaid man-of-war. The pirates have got the ship Cassandra into so crooked a place that all the Navy of England cannot hurt her. They have lighted [sic] their ship three foot to get her over the shoals and were six days hauling her in between the rocks (so) that it is impossible for any vessel to come near her. They give out that they can divide in silver and gold PS1,200 a man, and to have a great value aboard in diamonds besides a great many rich goods."' 5-B. Letter from James Pearce to Humphrey Morrice, 4 July 1723. "Captain David Greenhill in one of the South Sea Company's Snows arrived from Porto. bello two days before we sailed from Jamaica and brings account that the Cassandra Pirate was come into Portobello and the people had a free pardon for themselves and goods [i.e. were allowed to keep their booty), only paying the King's duty, and they were selling their diamonds and India goods there when he came away. They have taken the ship for the King of Spain and christened her with great ceremony." 12 Tullear is on the north of St. Augustine's Bay. 13 St. John's Road, S. W. Africa (Umzirubu). 4 N. W. coast of Madagascar ( ? modern Majanga ). See Hamilton's map, I. fig. 1, and correct note on p. 20, ante. 48 Aruba or Oruba, off the Gulf of Maracaibo, Columbia. 48 Gulf of San Blas, Columbia, where there would be a good hiding place for pirates in the Archipelago. do las Mulattas.,