other unsavory characters. New Providence island, where 

 Nassau is situated, became the pirate headquarters. 



Conditions finally became so intolerable that early in 

 the eighteenth century the British government sent a force 

 headed by Captain Woodes Rogers to establish order in 

 the islands and subdue the brigands. Rogers succeeded in 

 persuading them to lead a quieter life by hanging many 

 from the gallows. Those who did not take to the new order 

 soon left for more hospitable areas. It was not long after this 

 that the islands were settled by English colonists, later aug- 

 mented by American Tories who had fled the newly cre- 

 ated United States at the end of the Revolution. 



Although agriculture and fishing were the accepted 

 way of making a living during those early days, the wreck- 

 ing trade also flourished. Gradually the string of reefs fring- 

 ing the seaward islands accumulated more than their 

 normal quota of wrecked ships, many of them victims of 

 the wreckers' tricks. Wherever Ed and I sailed in the Ba- 

 hamas with Blue Heron, we heard tales of pirates and 

 wreckers, and booty which still lay on the bottom or was 

 hidden in secret places on land. 



So when we later became enamored with diving and 

 the exciting prospects offered wherever coral reefs and 

 treacherous bars exist, our minds naturally turned to these 

 widespread Bahama banks and cays, where it seemed cer- 

 tain we would be able to locate many worth-while diving 

 prospects. 



Our first attempt made with Eryholme in search of the 

 brass cannon on the north Bahama banks had ended in 

 failure. A number of Bahamians later told us similar stories 

 of brass cannon which had been seen lying on the sandy 

 bottom of these extensive, shallow banks; but whenever 

 we tried to pin down these tales as to exact location, we 

 learned only that the cannon were in the vicinity of the 

 Lily banks. 



The Bahama Islands 107 



