Page:A general history of the pyrates, from their first rise and settlement in the Island of Providence, to the present time (1724).djvu/33

Rh indulge a Time, and become ready for new Expeditions before any Intelligence can reach to hurt them.

It may here perhaps be no unneceary Digreion, to explain upon what they call Keys in the Wet-Indies: Thee are mall andy Ilands, appearing a little above the Surf of the Water, with only a few Buhes or Weeds upon them, but abound (thoe mot at any Ditance from the Main) with Turtle, amphibious Animals, that always chue the quietet and mot unfrequented Place, for laying their Eggs, which are to a vat Number in the Seaons, and would eldom be een, but for this, (except by Pyrate:) Then Veels from Jamaica and the other Governments make Voyages, called Turtling, for upplying the People, a common and approved Food with them. I am apt to think thee Keys, epecially thoe nigh Ilands, to have been once contiguous with them, and eparated by Earthquakes (frequently there) or Inundations, becaue ome of them that have been within continual View, as thoe nigh Jamaica, are oberved within our Time, to be entirely wated away and lot, and others daily wating. There are not only of the Ue above taken Notice of to Pyrates; but it is commonly believed were always in buccaneering pyratical Times, the hiding Places for their Riches, and often Times a Shelter for themelves, till their Friends on the Main, had found Means to obtain Indemnity for their Crimes; for you mut undertand, when Acts of Grace were more frequent, and the Laws les evere, thee Men continually found Favours and Incouragers at Jamaica, and perhaps they are not all dead yet; I have been told many of them them till living have been of the ame Trade, and left it off only becaue they can live as well honetly, and gain now at the hazard of others Necks. Rh