Chap. VII. 



CRQELTY OP JAILORS. 



183 



feet, but also on one knee a band or oval hoop of 

 iron, placed over tlie knee, while the leg was 

 flexed on the thigh, and to confine this in its 

 place a rod of iron was thrust through the middle 

 of the hoop at the ham and locked, so that it could 

 not be removed ; the knee was thus kept forcibly 

 bent, causing much agony to the wretched pri- 

 soners. 



" It was then late in the afternoon, and almost 

 dark ; all that could be done, however, was effected 

 as speedily as possible ; bullets cut out, wounds 

 dressed, fractured limbs bound up and put in posi- 

 tion, as far as time and circumstances would allow ; 

 and the next day, bandages, splints, ointment, 

 and whatever else was wanted, were taken and 

 applied to the sufferers. Attempts were made, by 

 application to the officers, to induce them to take 

 off the hoops and chains from the fractured limbs, 

 but the application was refused ; and at a later 

 period, when the request was more urgently 

 pressed, the officers said that they would not do it, 

 and that they hoped the men would all die, and 

 the sooner the better; also that they wished no 

 help or relief to be afforded to them. 



However, the pirates themselves were very 

 thankful for the relief they experienced, and they 

 assisted and nursed one another very kindly. The 

 way in which orders were given, and relief admi- 

 nistered, in the cells, was a curious process ; one 

 of the occupants was an intelligent young man, 

 and spoke English very well ; he had been beaten 



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