The Book of Buried Treasure: Being a True History of the Gold, Jewels, and Plate of Pirates, Galleons, etc., which are sought for to this dayPaine, Ralph Delahaye
History
The Book of Buried Treasure: Being a True History of the Gold, Jewels, and Plate of Pirates, Galleons, etc., which are sought for to this day
Paine, Ralph Delahaye
Treasure troves
[4] Israel Hands was tried and condemned with Blackboard's crew, but
was pardoned by royal proclamation, and, according to Captain Johnson,
"was alive some time ago in London, begging his bread." This would
indicate that he had buried no treasure of his own, and had not
fathomed Blackbeard's secret. Stevenson borrowed the name of Israel
Hands for one of his crew of pirates in "Treasure Island."
[5] _The Pirates' Own Book_.
[6] This is from _The Pirates' Own Book_. Captain Johnson's version is
unexpurgated and to be preferred, for he declares that Blackbeard cried
out, "Damnation seize my soul if I give you quarter, or take any from
you."
[7] As showing the fanciful tastes in sinister flags, Captain Johnson
records that Captain Roberts flew "a black silk flag at the mizzen
peak, and a jack and pendant at the same. The flag had a death's head
on it, with an hour glass in one hand, and cross bones in the other, a
dart by one, and underneath a heart dropping three drops of blood."
[8] _The Buccaneers of America_. A True Account of the Most Remarkable
Assaults Committed of Late Years Upon the Coasts of the West Indies by
the Buccaneers of Jamaica and Tortuga (Both English and French).
Wherein are contained more especially the Unparalleled Exploits of Sir
Henry Morgan, our English Jamaican hero who sacked Porto Bello, burnt
Panama, etc. (Published in 1684.)
[9]The buccaneers derived their name from the process of drying beef
over a wood fire, or _boucane_ in French. They were at first hunters
of wild cattle in the island of Hispaniola or Hayti who disposed of
their product to smugglers, traders, and pirates, but they were a
distinct class from the _filibustiers_ or sea rovers. As cattle became
scarce and the Spanish more hostile and cruel foes, the buccaneers,
French and English, forsook their trade and took to the sea, to harry
the common foe.
[10] The schedule thus referred to stipulated that for the crew, except
the officers specified, it was a case of "no prey, no pay." For the
loss of a right arm, the consolation money was six hundred pieces of
eight, or six slaves; for the loss of a left arm, 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 of the hand the same reward as for the eye. "All
which sums of money, as I have said before, are taken out of the
capital sum or common stock of what is got by their piracy."
CHAPTER XVI
PRACTICAL HINTS FOR TREASURE SEEKERS
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