153 
selves in a conciliatory manner towards them, adopted 
their customs and manners, and treated them at all 
times with friendship and respect. 
The period soon arrived when they experienced the 
benefit of this line of conduct. A large armament 
was fitted out well manned and appointed, which 
attacked them with a most determined resolution. 
Accustomed to war and to success, the pirates made 
long and vigorous resistance, but it was to no pur¬ 
pose ; their enemy was too powerful, and having put 
them to flight, pursued them even to the place of 
their retreat, insomuch that they were obliged to set 
fire to their vessels, in order to prevent them falling 
into their hands. 
Being thus at once deprived of the usual sources 
of their existence, and knowing that as soon as the 
stores of merchandize, which they had been enabled 
to collect by their dangerous mode of life, were ex¬ 
hausted, their importance with the natives would 
sink, they began to reflect upon the means of pre¬ 
serving that importance, and at last concerted a plan, 
which, in the sequel, completely answered their ends. 
This was nothing less than the introduction of the 
slave-trade. 
We have before detailed the manner in w 7 hich the 
slave-trade was introduced. Numberless attempts 
had been made to induce the natives to adopt it 
before, but to no purpose. The French writers are 
very much disposed to ascribe the introduction of 
this horrid traffic entirely to the pirates; but we are 
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