155 
away now, they would be lost and dispersed about 
the country. The respect due to the strangers was 
long before it could be overcome; but at length 
the Antivares and Manivoulese yielded, and at¬ 
tacked the Bethalimenes. A bloody war ensued, 
in which the pirates cautiously avoided interfering 
in a public manner; but they secretly encouraged 
both parties, selling arms to the Antivares, and 
representing to the others that they had right on 
their side. At length the latter, who did not 
come from home prepared for a protracted contest, 
found their ammunition expended; and at this 
juncture the pirates advised them to the act of ex¬ 
changing their prisoners of war for arms and gun¬ 
powder, as we have before related. Being a brave 
people, the numbers were considerable, and they were 
enabled, by such a supply as they obtained in ex¬ 
change for them, to return home without any further re¬ 
sistance on the part of the enemy. The consequences 
that followed this event, as it respects the Madegasses, 
are already before the reader; but we have yet to re¬ 
late in what manner the pirates were affected by it. 
Those men, or rather monsters, who a few months 
before were the scourge and the curse of the East- 
India trade, who were looked upon with horror 
and detestation, and for whose utter destruction 
many nations (otherwise filled with jealousy of each 
other) united in forming a powerful armament, be¬ 
came all at once of such consequence to their coun¬ 
trymen, that their protection was eagerly sought; and 
