n in waste
and confusion. The swarms of moschetoes and sand-flies made it
impossible to get any sleep or rest. The pirate's large boat was armed
and manned under Bolidar, and sent off with letters to a merchant (as
they called him) by the name of Dominico, residing in a town called
Principe, on the main island of Cuba. I was told by one of them, who
could speak English, that Principe was a very large and populous town,
situated at the head of St. Maria, which was about twenty miles
northeast from where we lay, and the Keys lying around us were called
Cotton Keys.--The captain pressed into his service Francis de Suze, one
of my crew, saying that he was one of his countrymen. Francis was very
reluctant in going, and said to me, with tears in his eyes, "I shall do
nothing but what I am obliged to do, and will not aid in the least to
hurt you or the vessel; I am very sorry to leave you." He was
immediately put on duty and Thomas Goodall sent back to the Exertion.

Sunday, 23d.--Early this morning a large number of the pirates came on
board of the Exertion, threw out the long boat, broke open the hatches,
and took out considerable of the cargo, in search of rum, gin, &c.,
still telling me "I had some and they would find it," uttering the most
awful profaneness. In the afternoon their boat returned with a perough,
having on board the captain, his first lieutenant and seven men of a
patriot or piratical vessel that was chased ashore at Cape Cruz by a
Spanish armed brig. These seven men made their escape in said boat, and
after four days, found our pirates and joined them; the remainder of the
crew being killed or taken prisoners.

Monday, 24th.--Their boat was manned and sent to the before-mentioned
town.--I was informed by a line from Nickola, that the pirates had a man
on board, a native of Principe, who, in the garb of a sailor, was a
partner with Dominico, but I could not get sight of him. This lets us a
little into the plans by which this atrocious system of piracy has been
carried on. Merchants having partners on board of these pirates! thus
pirates at sea and robbers on land are associated to destroy the
peaceful trader. The willingness exhibited by the seven above-mentioned
men, to join our gang of pirates, seems to look like a general
understanding among them; and from there being merchants on shore so
base as to encourage the plunder and vend the goods, I am persuaded
there has been a systematic confederacy on the p