20 THE SEA. 



bound for New Spain, laden with cocoa-nuts, Lolonois commanded the rest of the fleet 

 to wait for him near Savona, on the east of Cape Punta d' Espada, he alone intending 

 to take the said vessel. The Spaniards, though they had been in sight two hours, and 

 knew them to be pirates, yet would not flee, but prepared to fight, being well armed 

 and provided. The combat lasted three hours, and then they surrendered. This ship 

 had sixteen guns and fifty fighting men aboard. They found in her 120,000 weight 

 of cocoa, 40,000 pieces of eight, and the value of ] 0,000 more in jewels. Lolonois sent 

 the vessel presently to Tortuga to be unladed, with orders to return as soon as possible to 

 Savona, where he would wait for them. Meanwhile, the rest of the fleet being arrived 

 at Savona met another Spanish vessel coming from Coman, with military provisions 

 to Hispanioia, and money to pay the garrisons there. This vessel they also took, without 

 any resistance, though mounted with eight guns. In it were 7,000 weight of powder, 

 a great number of muskets and like things, with 12,000 pieces of eight." 



These successes emboldened the pirates, and we find their next exploit that of taking 

 a town of no inconsiderable size, that of Maracaibo in Venezuela. The island on which 

 it is situated is divided by a gulf or bay from two others ; on one was placed a watch- 

 tower, while on the other was a castle, and as the water about was often shallow, with 

 many dangerous sand-banks, vessels had to come in very close to it. Maracaibo, the city 

 or town, had some 3,000 or 4,000 Spanish inhabitants, and about 800 able to bear arms. 

 There was a large church, four monasteries, and one hospital ; the trade of the town was 

 largely in tobacco, hides, and to an extent flesh, which they exchanged for cocoa-nuts, 

 oranges, lemons, and other fruits, with a town named Gibraltar, situated some distance 

 in the country on the Lake of Maracaibo. The latter is described as delightfully situated 

 among plantations of sugar, and cocoa, and woods, the timber of which was often large 

 enough for ship and boat building. The whole country abounded in rivers and brooks, 

 while the tobacco grown had a high reputation in Europe, being known as tobacco de 

 sacerdotes, or priests' tobacco. 



Lolonois arrived at the Gulf of Venezuela, and cast anchor out of sight of the watch- 

 tower already mentioned; next morning he made in for the Lake of Maracaibo, which 

 communicates with the sea, and cast anchor again. Then a number of the men landed to 

 attack the fortress which commanded the bar, and which was merely composed of earthworks. 

 The governor, however, knew of their approach, and had placed an ambuscade to cut them 

 off behind, while he should attack them in front. This the pirates discovered, and manoeuvred 

 so successfully and fought so desperately that not a man could retreat to the castle. This 

 done, Lolonois, with his followers, advanced immediately to the fort, and after a desperate 

 fight of nearly three hours completely mastered it, without any other arms than swords 

 and pistols. While this fight was in progress, the routed ambuscade, not being able to 

 get into the castle, retired into Maracaibo in great confusion and disorder, crying out, 

 " The pirates will presently be here with two thousand men and more ! " The city had 

 been formerly sacked by pirates, and the people knew well of what quality was their mercy. 

 There was then a general stampede in boats and canoes to Gibraltar, with such of the 

 portable wealth as could be taken. Arrived there, they spread the dismal news, and there 

 was general dismay. 



