HOW THE PIRATES DIVIDED THEIR SPOILS. 11 



Having- got flesh sufficient for their voyage, they returned to the L.iip. Here every- 

 one was allowed, twice a day, as much as he could eat, without weight or measure ; nor 

 did the steward of the vessel give any more flesh, nor anything else, to the captain than 

 to the meanest mariner. "The ship being well victualled, they would deliberate whether 

 they should go to seek their desperate fortunes, and likewise agree upon certain articles, 

 which were put in writing, which every one was bound to observe ; and all of them, or the 

 chiefest part, set their hands to it. Here they set down distinctly what sums of money 

 each particular person ought to have for that voyage, the fund of all the payments being- 

 what was netted by the whole expedition, for otherwise it was the same law among these 

 people as other pirates 'No prey, no pay/ First, therefore, they calculated how much 

 the captain was to have for his ship ; next the salary of the carpenter or shipwright who 

 careened, mended, and rigged the vefsel ; this commonly amounted to one hundred or one 

 hundred and fifty pieces of eight,* according to the agreement. Afterwards, for provisions 

 and victualling, they drew out of the same common stock about two hundred pieces of 

 eight ; also a salary for the surgeon and his medicine chest, which usually is rated at 

 two hundred or two hundred and fifty pieces of eight. Lastly, they agreed what rate each 

 one ought to have that was either wounded or maimed in his body, or should suffer the 

 loss of any limb : as, for the loss of a right arm, six hundred pieces of eight, or six slaves ; 

 for the left arm, five hundred pieces of eight, or five slaves ; for a right leg, 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, the 

 same as for an eye : all which sums were taken out of the common stock of what was 

 gathered by their piracy, and a very exact and equal dividend was made of the remainder. 

 They had also regard to qualities and places; thus, the captain or chief was allotted five 

 or six portions to what the ordinary seamen had, the master's mate only two, and other 

 officers proportionately to their employ ; after which they drew equal parts, from the highest 

 to the lowest mariner, the boys not being omitted, who drew a half share, because when 

 they take a> better vessel than their own it was the boys' duty to fire the former vessel,. 

 and then retire to the prize/' 



They observed among themselves very good order ; for in the prizes which they took 

 it was severely prohibited to any one to take anything for themselves; hence all they 

 got was equally divided. They took a solemn oath to each other not to conceal the least 

 thing they might find among the prizes; and if any one was found false to his oath he was 

 immediately turned out of the society. They were very kind and charitable to each other, 

 so that if any one wanted what another had, he was immediately supplied. As soon as these 

 pirates had taken a prize, they immediately set ashore the prisoners, detaining only some 

 few for their own help and service, whom also they released after two or three years. They 

 refreshed themselves at one island or another, but especially at those on the south of Cuba ; 

 here they careened their vessels, while some went hunting, and others cruised in canoes for 

 prizes. They often took the poor turtle fishermen, and made them work during their pleasure. 



The inhabitants of New Spain and Campechy were wont to lade their best merchandise 

 in ships of great bulk ; the vessels from Campechy sailed in the winter to Caraccas, the 

 * The "piece of eight" means in value, as nearly as possible, the American dollar of to-day. 



