e any money left,
having spent it all in things of little value, or lost it at play. Here
had arrived, not long before them, two French ships, with wine and
brandy, and suchlike commodities; whereby these liquors, at the arrival
of the pirates, were indifferent cheap. But this lasted not long, for
soon after they were enhanced extremely, a gallon of brandy being sold
for four pieces-of-eight. The governor of the island bought of the
pirates the whole cargo of the ship laden with cocoa, giving for that
rich commodity scarce the twentieth part of its worth. Thus they made
shift to lose and spend the riches they had got, in much less time than
they were obtained. The taverns and stews, according to the custom of
pirates, got the greatest part; so that, soon after, they were forced to
seek more by the same unlawful means they had got the former.
FOOTNOTES:
[14] _The Buccaneers of America._
THE FIGHT BETWEEN THE _DORRILL_ AND THE _MOCA_[15]
These truly representeth a scheem of what misfortune has befell us as we
were going through the streights of Malacca, in the persuance to our
pretended voyage, _vizt._, Wednesday the 7th July, 5 o'clock morning we
espied a ship to windward; as soon as was well light perceived her to
bare down upon us. Wee thought at first she had been a Dutchman bound
for Atcheen or Bengall, when perceived she had no Gallerys, did then
suppose her to be what after, to our dreadful sorrow, found her. Wee
gott our ship in the best posture of defence that suddain emergent
necessity would permitt. Wee kept good looking out, expecting to see an
Island called Pullo Verello [Pulo Barahla], but as then saw it not.
About 8 of the clock the ship came up fairely within shott. Saw in room
of our Gallerys there was large sally ports, in each of which was a
large gunn, seemed to be brass. Her tafferill was likewise taken downe.
Wee having done what possibly could to prepare ourselves, fearing might
be suddenly sett on, ordered our people to their respective stations for
action. Wee now hoisted our colours. The Captain commanded to naile our
Ensigne to the staff in sight of the enimie, which was immediately done.
As they perceived wee hoisted our colours they hoisted theirs, with the
Union Jack, and let fly a broad red Pendant at their maintopmast head.
The Pirate being now in little more than half Pistoll shott from us, wee
could discerne abundance of men who went aft to the Quarter Deck, which
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