If
the chart represents one of the Cape Verdi group of islands,
why, or what would a pirate or privateer, find of interest
in that region? Perhaps we had better take a closer look!
As
you can see from the Chart illustrated, most of the ships
of all sea going nations of the period.
(Spain, Portugal, England, France and Holland) Either
stopped off at or passed the Cape Verdi Islands, on their
outward and homeward journeys.
Click on the picture for a close
up view.
The
simple reason for this, the Wind of course. Most ships
of the period sailed before the wind and they all had
to use the same wind direction, which occurred at certain
times of year, waiting for the change of seasons and therefore
the change of wind direction to make the return voyage.
It should come as no surprise as to what possible reason
a pirate would cruise the Cape Verdi Group, does it ?
The
Cape Verdi islands were discovered, by the Portuguese
in the early 15th century. They colonized them
and introduced livestock. They became known as the salt
islands, for the abundance of salt reaped from the natural
tidal lagoons. They were used as a stop over for
most nations, to replenish water and salt, fresh fruit
and fresh meat etc.
Whilst
a Portuguese colony, some of the islands were rather barren
and unproductive, therefore they became less important
to control.
Perhaps
that's the reason that Sir
Francis Drake attacked and sacked the main town on
the main island of Santiago. Also Dampier the celebrated
and rumoured Pirate and Renowned Navigator, warned
in 1682, not to set foot on Maio as it is infested with
cut throats, murderers, Pirates and thieves.
The
celebrated Pirate " Henry Long Ben Avery " is said to
have started his piracies off the Cape Verdi and is also
charged with having a base on Maio. From this position,
he attacked and burnt the main town, of the island St
Vincent, in the northern group. This town consisted of
300 houses and would have required a large force to take
it.
If
these stories are true, then Avery must have had quite
a sizable number of crew and ships. Avery is not the only
Pirate with links to the Cape, Henry Morgan, Capt. William
Kidd also sailed these waters.
The
islands were also a Slave
Trading Base, after all new world colonies needed labour
and the African mainland was only 300 miles eastward.
In
other words most of the infamous and not so famous, pirates
and privateers are most likely to have at least visited
some of the islands in the group. So lets take a closer
look at the islands as a group, especially the ones laying
on Latitude 15* 15**.
Useful
Links
Porcelain
Cargo From East Indiamen East India Companies English
East India Company
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