owed poops, as they glide along like fishes
before them, all one as if they showed them their backs to salute: and
as in the cruising art, by continual practise, they are so very
expert, and withal (for our sins) so daring, presumptuous, and
fortunate, in a few days from their leaving Algiers they return laden
with infinite wealth and captives; and are able to make three or four
voyages in a year, and even more if they are inclined to exert
themselves. Those who have been cruising westward, when they have
taken a prize, conduct it to sell at Tetw[=a]n, El-Araish, &c., in the
kingdom of Fez; as do those who have been eastward, in the states of
Tunis and Tripoli: where, refurnishing themselves with provisions,
&c., they instantly set out again, and again return with cargoes of
Christians and their effects. If it sometimes happens more
particularly in winter, that they have roamed about for any
considerable time without lighting on any booty, they retire to some
one of these seven places, viz:--If they had been in the west their
retreats were Tetw[=a]n, Al-Araish, or Yusale; those who came from the
Spanish coasts went to the island Formentara; and such as had been
eastward retired to the island S. Pedro, near Sardinia, the mouths of
Bonifacio in Corsica, or the islands Lipari and Strombolo, near Sicily
and Calabria; and there, what with the conveniency of those commodious
ports and harbours, and the fine springs and fountains of water, with
the plenty of wood for fuel they meet with, added to the careless
negligence of the Christian galleys, who scarce think it their
business to seek for them--they there, very much at their ease, regale
themselves, with stretched-out legs, waiting to intercept the paces of
Christian ships, which come there and deliver themselves into their
clutches."[64]

Father Dan describes their mode of attack as perfectly ferocious.
Flying a foreign flag, they lure the unsuspecting victim within
striking distance, and then the gunners (generally renegades) ply the
shot with unabated rapidity, while the sailors and boatswains chain
the slaves that they may not take part in the struggle. The fighting
men stand ready, their arms bared, muskets primed, and scimitars
flashing, waiting for the order to board. Their war-cry was appalling;
and the fury of the onslaught was such as to strike panic into the
stoutest heart.

When a prize was taken the booty was divided with scrupulous honesty
between the owner