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 cruelty went not alone; for he not being able or willing to make
any other declaration, they put him to another sort of torment more
barbarous; they tied him with small cords by his two thumbs and great
toes to four stakes fixed in the ground, at a convenient distance, the
whole weight of his body hanging on those cords. Not satisfied yet with
this cruel torture, they took a stone of above two hundred pounds, and
laid it upon his belly, as if they intended to press him to death; they
also kindled palm leaves, and applied the flame to the face of this
unfortunate Portuguese, burning with them the whole skin, beard, and
hair. At last, seeing that neither with these tortures, nor others, they
could get anything out of him, they untied the cords, and carried him
half dead to the church, where was their corps du guard; here they tied
him anew to one of the pillars thereof, leaving him in that condition,
without giving him either to eat or drink, unless very sparingly, and so
little that would scarce sustain life for some days; four or five being
past, he desired one of the prisoners might come to him, by whose means
he promised he would endeavour to raise some money to satisfy their
demands. The prisoner whom he required was brought to him, and he
ordered him to promise the pirate five hundred pieces of eight for his
ransom; but they were deaf and obstinate at such a small sum, and
instead of accepting it, beat him cruelly with cudgels, saying, "Old
fellow, instead of five hundred, you must say five hundred thousand
pieces of eight; otherwise you shall here end your life." Finally, after
a thousand protestations that he was but a miserable man, and kept a
poor tavern for his living, he agreed with them for one thousand pieces
of eight. These he raised, and having paid them, got his liberty; though
so horribly maimed, that it is scarce to be believed he could survive
many weeks.
Others were crucified by these tyrants, and with kindled matches burnt
between the joints of their fingers and toes: others had their feet put
into the fire, and thus were left to be roasted alive. Having used these
and other cruelties with the white men, they began to practise the same
with the negroes, their slaves, who were treated with no less inhumanity
than their masters.
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