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
This city is in the province of Costa Rica, 10 deg. north latitude,
fourteen leagues from the gulf of Darien, and eight westwards from the
port called Nombre de Dios. It is judged the strongest place the king of
Spain possesses in all the West Indies, except Havanna and Carthagena.
Here are two castles almost impregnable, that defend the city, situate
at the entry of the port, so that no ship or boat can pass without
permission. The garrison consists of three hundred soldiers, and the
town is inhabited by about four hundred families. The merchants dwell
not here, but only reside awhile, when the galleons come from or go for
Spain, by reason of the unhealthiness of the air, occasioned by vapours
from the mountains; so that though their chief warehouses are at Puerto
Bello, their habitations are at Panama, whence they bring the plate upon
mules, when the fair begins, and when the ships belonging to the company
of negroes arrive to sell slaves.
Captain Morgan, who knew very well all the avenues of this city and the
neighbouring coasts, arrived in the dusk of the evening at Puerto de
Naos, ten leagues to the west of Puerto Bello. Being come hither, they
sailed up the river to another harbour called Puerto Pontin, where they
anchored: here they put themselves into boats and canoes, leaving in the
ships only a few men to bring them next day to the port. About midnight
they came to a place called Estera longa Lemos, where they all went on
shore, and marched by land to the first posts of the city: they had in
their company an Englishman, formerly a prisoner in those parts, who now
served them for a guide: to him and three or four more they gave
commission to take the sentinel, if possible, or kill him on the place:
but they seized him so cunningly, as he had no time to give warning with
his musket, or make any noise, and brought him, with his hands bound,
to Captain Morgan, who asked him how things went in the city, and what
forces they had; with other circumstances he desired to know. After
every question they made him a thousand menaces to kill him, if he
declared not the truth. Then they advanced to the city, carrying the
said sentinel bound before them: having marched about a quarter of a
league, they came to the castle near the city, which presently they
closely surrounded, so that no person could get either in or out.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account