The Pirates of Panama: or, The Buccaneers of America; a True Account of the Famous Adventures and Daring Deeds of Sir Henry Morgan and Other Notorious Freebooters of the Spanish MainExquemelin, A. O. (Alexandre Olivier)
History
The Pirates of Panama: or, The Buccaneers of America; a True Account of the Famous Adventures and Daring Deeds of Sir Henry Morgan and Other Notorious Freebooters of the Spanish Main
Exquemelin, A. O. (Alexandre Olivier)
Buccaneers; Pirates; Spanish Main; West Indies -- History
Having feasted themselves with those pieces of leather, they marched on,
till they came about night to another post, called Torna Munni. Here
they found another ambuscade, but as barren as the former. They searched
the neighbouring woods, but could not find anything to eat, the
Spaniards having been so provident, as not to leave anywhere the least
crumb of sustenance, whereby the pirates were now brought to this
extremity. Here again he was happy that had reserved since noon any bit
of leather to make his supper of, drinking after it a good draught of
water for his comfort. Some, who never were out of their mothers'
kitchens, may ask, how these pirates could eat and digest those pieces
of leather, so hard and dry? Whom I answer, that, could they once
experiment what hunger, or rather famine, is, they would find the way as
the pirates did. For these first sliced it in pieces, then they beat it
between two stones, and rubbed it, often dipping it in water, to make it
supple and tender. Lastly, they scraped off the hair, and broiled it.
Being thus cooked, they cut it into small morsels, and ate it, helping
it down with frequent gulps of water, which, by good fortune, they had
at hand.
The fifth day, about noon, they came to a place called Barbacoa. Here
they found traces of another ambuscade, but the place totally as
unprovided as the former. At a small distance were several plantations,
which they searched very narrowly, but could not find any person,
animal, or other thing, to relieve their extreme hunger. Finally, having
ranged about, and searched a long time, they found a grot, which seemed
to be but lately hewn out of a rock, where were two sacks of meal,
wheat, and like things, with two great jars of wine, and certain fruits
called platanoes. Captain Morgan, knowing some of his men were now
almost dead with hunger, and fearing the same of the rest, caused what
was found to be distributed among them who were in greatest necessity.
Having refreshed themselves with these victuals, they marched anew with
greater courage than ever. Such as were weak were put into the canoes,
and those commanded to land that were in them before. Thus they
prosecuted their journey till late at night; when coming to a
plantation, they took up their rest, but without eating anything; for
the Spaniards, as before, had swept away all manner of provisions.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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