In what year did pirates appear? Real pirates: what they were like

Pirates have been admired by the masses for hundreds of years. Being idealized in fiction, the image of a pirate took the form of a bearded, one-legged man with a funny hat and, perhaps, a parrot on his shoulder.

The pirate was almost relegated to the category of a quaint, old-time fad until Disney revived the swashbucklers by turning the Disneyland attraction into a multi-billion dollar movie series. These films star Johnny Depp, impersonating the Rolling Stones' Keith Richards, or, as Robert Ebert once wrote, "playing a drunken homo with rimmed eyes, a shambling gait on land, and slurred speech." With all this in mind, in this article we will look at ten surprising myths, facts and misconceptions associated with pirates.

3. Pirates were part of the normal economy

In the Pirates of the Caribbean series, pirates were literally immortal spirits who had no need for the rest of humanity. There is a myth that pirates were outcasts and pariahs, but any criminal, past or present, needs to sell his booty. Although the pirates did capture gold and diamonds, these things were far from their only loot. Most pirates took whatever the ships might have, such as water, food, soap, timber, salted fish, and supplies for the New World colonies. Medicines were the most coveted prize.

Since pirates needed somewhere to sell all these goods, there were many ports (pirate and regular) that encouraged trade with pirates. Often pirates were supported by their home countries, as was the case with English privateers, and their "patents of marque" gave them the legal right to seize ships of enemy countries. Due to this, they could legally sell their spoils in the ports of their country. Privateering, which was like a modern version of military contractors, “stimulated the growth of cities along the Atlantic coast, from Charleston to Dunkirk. However, the pirates, who did not have the support of a specific country, also had no shortage of middlemen and smugglers who took tons of salted fish from them and sold it in local markets.

5. Pirates wore jewelry to improve their eyesight

Those brave souls who solid ground who boarded the frail ship to righteously navigate the stormy seas, have always been a superstitious people. Bananas are banned on the high seas and are believed to bring death to all on board. Real sailors will always throw bananas overboard as quickly as possible.

Sailors are also superstitious about talismans that bring good luck. Black cats, which usually bring bad luck on land, are good luck charms at sea, and sailors often keep a black cat on board ship. Some even force their wives to have black cats at home to ensure a double dose of good luck. Pirates are no exception to maritime superstitions. According to the Journal American Association optometry", pirates pierced their ears en masse in the hope that this would improve their vision.

7. Pirate ships were democratic

In films, pirates are often portrayed as mafiosos, with the boss ruling the ship with an iron fist. In real life, pirate ships were surprisingly democratic microcosms. During the golden age of piracy, more than 100 years before democracy was established in America, sailors on legal ships were little more than slaves. The captain controlled everything, and in the British navy things were even worse. The sailors lived in terrible conditions. Living conditions on the ships were so bad that the only way to obtain new crew members was through forced recruitment or the kidnapping of innocent people in any harbor the ship entered.

This life paled in comparison to the pirate ships where democracy flourished. The pirates not only divided the loot among themselves, but also had a say in everything. They voted on where to sail, who to attack, what to do with the prisoners, and even on the expression of no confidence and removal of the captain.

9. Pirate health insurance

Hundreds of years ago, sailing was difficult. Piracy, which involved strong resistance and rare loot, was even more difficult. When pirates weren't suffering from poor nutrition or scurvy, they had to deal with the usual risks of the seven seas, such as storms and new tropical diseases. Being criminals, they also had no military organization or state to rely on. Since the pirates carried out their activities together, they often helped each other in everything related to health. In the event of injury on board a ship or during the hijacking of another ship, pirates could count on each other for financial support.

There was a group in the Caribbean called the Brotherhood or the Brotherhood of the Shore (mentioned in Pirates of the Caribbean). One of the most famous pirate captains of this group was Henry Morgan. Morgan offered the following compensation for the injuries: the right arm was worth 600 pesos, the left arm was worth 500 pesos, the right leg was worth 500 pesos, the left leg was worth 400 pesos, and the eye was worth 100 pesos. In 1600, one peso was equal to about 50 modern pounds sterling, so the right hand was then valued at 30,000 pounds sterling. Even the crazy scourge of the Caribbean, Blackbeard, cared so much about his crew that he captured three French surgeons to provide medical care.

11. Pirates robbed more than just ships

According to the definition in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a pirate is a person who engages in piracy or robbery on the high seas, that is, aquatic theft. But being true vagabonds, pirates did not limit themselves to robbery at sea. When they had the opportunity, pirates could also attack land-based targets.

There were many invasions carried out by pirates. One pirate warlord, Edward Mansfield, controlled a pirate army of 1,000 men

In 1663, she landed on land and launched an attack on the Spanish that became known as the Sack of Campeche (now a city in Mexico). Pirate Henry Morgan led another pirate army 50 miles inland to attack Puerto Principe (now the city of Camagüey in central Cuba). If the loot was large enough, the pirates had no problem leaving their ships to plunder land-based mattresses.

13. Piracy was not a permanent activity

In Pirates of the Caribbean, pirates were doomed to purgatory, forever sailing the seven seas, but real-life pirates were less constant. Piracy was often seen as a way to strengthen one's position in ordinary society. People spent several years in this extremely dangerous occupation, and then took their spoils and improved their well-being and the well-being of their families.

At least that was the case with Woods Rogers (that's the dapper gentleman on the right in the image above). He sailed around the world, robbing ships along the way. He even managed to save Alexander Selkirk, a Scottish sailor who became the prototype for the main character of the novel Robinson Crusoe, written by the English writer Daniel Defoe. Returning home, he gave up piracy and became the governor of the Bahamas, and his pirate past did not hinder him in the fight against local pirates. Of course, not all pirates became politicians, but many of them skillfully used ill-gotten wealth to ensure a comfortable life for themselves in ordinary society.

15. Pirate trails

Modern word there was no standard spelling for pirate even in the 18th century. In historical archives, ocean robbers, or what we call pirates, were referred to as "pirrot", "pyrate" or "pyrat", which probably explains the association of parrots with pirates. Pirates burying their treasure was another literary trope that Robert Louis Stevenson created in his 1883 novel Treasure Island.

In the 1950s, the Disney film of the same name also introduced what we now know as pirate talk. For this film, Robert Newton, who played the pirate in it, used an exaggerated version of the dialect spoken in his hometown. Pirates also did not have wooden legs, and the skull and crossbones flag was just one of many flags used in pirate history.

So after all: who are pirates? Pirate ( lat. Pirata; Greekπειρατηζ, derived from the word πειραω - “to try, test”) - trying to get your luck. This concept arose back in the 4th–3rd centuries. BC e., referred to those who make a living by robbery at sea.

Subsequently, several other definitions appeared: privateer, privateer, corsair, filibuster, buccaneer, buccaneer.

Privateer (private) - the concept came into use in 80–67. BC e. This was the name given to pirates with special state powers. Naturally, initially there was no talk of any evidence. Evidence appeared much later. Pirates with the status of privateers could enter friendly ports, and were also often involved as an additional strategic resource during military confrontations.

The use of this concept was actively returned in 1200–1856. It is curious that the meaning of “retribution” was given to it. That is, if the captain felt left out or robbed, if he believed that he had the right to compensation for damage, he could obtain a certificate and, on full state grounds, go to sea and take retribution, solving his property problems. However, according to the law, this right could only be exercised during a war and in relation to ships of a country that is an enemy of the state that issued the license. Another thing is that the captains could instantly forget about all the imposed restrictions at the sight of rich booty.

Corsair – this concept spread around the 14th century (1300–1330), and it meant a person or ship with the status privateer, that is, having government permission to commit robberies. In theory, a corsair cannot be considered a pirate at all, since the pirate appropriates the booty for himself, and the privateer and corsair deliver it to their homeland to give to the authorities. But that's the idea. In fact, the line between the concepts is very thin. The vast majority of privateers and corsairs tried to obtain a certificate only in order to so that their sins as pirates may be forgiven! After receiving the certificate, they, as a rule, returned to their previous craft. However, here, as elsewhere, there were exceptions. The most exemplary were, for example, the Berber corsairs, who strictly observed the terms of the agreement with the government. The most malicious violators are considered to be the Maltese corsairs, accustomed to robbing everyone.

Buccaneers, buccaneers(from fr. boucanier - "frying the whole carcass") - the concept originally referred to hunters who hunted illegally in Haiti. In general, “bukan” was the name given to the place where the meat of the animals they killed was salted and smoked. Often the hunters became burdened by their life, full of hardships and hardships, and they, tempted by a bad example, began to engage in piracy. Over time, namely from the 17th century, all pirates of the Caribbean Sea, without exception, began to be called buccaneers. After 1684, when the famous book of the pirate Alexander Exquemelin “Pirates of America” was published, the word “buccaneer” firmly entered into everyday use.

Filibuster(from fr. filibuster) - sea robber and robber. This concept is closely related to the concept of “buccaneer”. Thus, yesterday’s hunter, who despised his craft and took up piracy, is a filibuster. The concept spread in the 17th–18th centuries.

September 19 marks the unofficial, but no less interesting and fun, International Pirate Day. On this occasion, we decided to talk about the places where today you can meet real sea robbers.

Somalia

Somalia is a country where piracy is supported at the state level. About 10% of all piracy revenues go to bribes to officials. Robbery of ships passing through the bay is main article income of a small republic where most of the population lives below the poverty line. Armed groups have a clear structure, all members of the formations have their place in the organization and perform strictly defined functions. So the Somali pirates have signalmen, scouts, a strike group, people who monitor the hostages. The way Somali pirates operate is quite simple: they take people hostage and then demand a ransom for them.

It is one of the busiest straits in Southeast Asia, connecting the Indian Ocean with the Pacific. Thousands of ships pass through it every month, and some of them are subject to pirate attacks. Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia are all countries with quite high level crime and a significant degree of poverty of the population, so it is not surprising that many citizens of these countries decided to make a living from robbery and robbery. The pirates of the Strait of Malacca operate in the same way as the Somali robbers, except that their scope is smaller.

Kenya is a state adjacent to the sea, the majority of whose citizens live below the poverty line. If there was a strait or some other convenient source of robbery near Kenya, there is no doubt that the Kenyans would not hesitate to take advantage of it. But since there is nothing like that, they have to be content with little: off the coast of Kenya, lost ships that were not robbed in Somalia are robbed. Fortunately, navigational instruments work well these days, so the percentage of robberies that occur off the coast of Kenya is within the statistical margin of error.

It’s a paradox, but this poorest country in the world has huge amounts of natural resources, which, if properly used, could turn it into a prosperous state. The majority of Tanzania's population lives below the poverty line and has no means of subsistence. Almost the entire population works in primitive agriculture and is not able to properly feed even themselves, not to mention profit and earnings. It is not surprising that crime and piracy are rampant in the country. Again, there are not many ships sailing off the coast of this country that could be robbed, so Tanzania does not lead in pirate statistics.

Disneyland in Tokyo is the largest amusement park in the world. It must be said that the pirates here are somewhat different from those described above. These are good cartoon pirates who won’t hurt flies and will amuse children. You can have a photo shoot with them without fear that they will stab you in the back or kidnap you for ransom.

Since the beginning of the 21st century, ships from 62 countries have been subject to pirate attacks. More than a hundred groups are engaged in maritime robbery. Why can't they still be defeated?

What kind of phenomenon are pirates in the 21st century? Why did the state of Somalia become the base of modern pirates? Renat Irikovich Bekkin, a senior researcher at the Institute of African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences and a lecturer at MGIMO (U) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, tells the story. He recently returned from a scientific trip to Somalia.

- Why did pirates of the 21st century choose Somalia?

In fact, international maritime robbery today does not only occur off the coast of Somalia. Gentlemen of fortune from Southeast Asia, unlike their Somali counterparts, are distinguished by extreme cruelty. Somalis, compared to the pirates “working” in the Strait of Malacca, are harmless sheep, noble knights. And in Indonesian territorial waters, professional gangs engage in piracy. Separatist partisans, as well as sailors and fishermen who have lost their jobs, do not disdain piracy. Pirates are actively involved in smuggling activities.

But there are many poor countries in the world. In the same Africa. Why did piracy become widespread in Somalia? After all, since the beginning of the year, more than 30 sea vessels have been captured by Somali pirates. Are there any historical reasons for the spread of piracy in Somalia?

We can talk more about geographical than historical prerequisites. Ships traveling from the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean and back, through the narrow Bab el-Mandeb Strait, cannot pass the Gulf of Aden and are a tasty morsel for lanky, dark-skinned gentlemen from Somalia. The route from Europe to South and East Asia and Australia runs through the Gulf of Aden. The aforementioned Strait of Malacca in Southeast Asia, one of the busiest sea routes, opens up no less opportunities for pirates. And the numerous islands scattered in the inland seas of Indonesia are a paradise for pirate bases. And in Africa, Somalia is far from the only place where pirates operate. Among the places of their greatest activity, I would highlight the coast of Nigeria and the south of the continent.

- What makes people become pirates? Who is he, a typical Somali pirate?

Whatever we may say about the romance of pirates, poverty is at the heart of piracy. Let's not forget that most of the once united state of Somalia is under the control of the leaders of various clans and tribes.

UN employees complain: they send a cargo of humanitarian aid to Somalia, but before it reaches its destination, it is intercepted by representatives of other clans that were left deprived of food distribution.

Most Somali pirates are young people who cannot find good jobs. For them, piracy is shrouded in an aura of romance. The opportunity to get involved in an interesting adventure and earn huge money at the same time, comparable to the pre-crisis Christmas bonuses of top managers on Wall Street, pushes young people into the ranks of gentlemen of fortune. According to my information, among the pirates there are no people from Somaliland, a de facto independent state in the north of the Somali Peninsula. Somaliland has lived in peace and relative prosperity compared to other parts of the once unified state of Somalia since 1991, and therefore the pirate profession is not very popular here. Most of the pirates come from the Majertan and Hawiye clans, from Puntland, a buffer quasi-state in the northeast of the Somali Peninsula.

Somali pirates try not to shed the blood of captured crews and treat them humanely. And this despite the fact that the low level of medical care has taught people to be calm about the prospect of their own premature death or the death of loved ones. By the way, as one of the justifications for piracy, the Somalis cite the following argument: foreign ships use the territorial waters of Somalia free of charge, and the people do not receive anything from this. As for the ship "Faina", according to information leaked to the media, it was transporting weapons intended for rebels in South Sudan, that is, it grossly violated international law. If this information is confirmed, then we can say that some criminals captured others.

- What about the Caribbean Sea, which is familiar to Hollywood fans?

The Caribbean Sea, as well as the entire American continent, according to the well-known Monroe Doctrine, is a zone of strategic interests of the United States. Therefore, the large-scale pirate industry in this area does not have a chance to exist. Although some pirate attacks also take place off the coast of South America.

The picture of the capture of the ship "Faina" amazes the modern TV viewer. Somali pirates on boats and fragile boats board a huge ship, the side of which is 6-8 meters larger than the entire flotilla of gentlemen of fortune. “Faina” could have accelerated, and the pirates would not have had a single chance to stop her, why didn’t this happen? What latest pirate technologies do the filibusters from Somalia have?

When I traveled around Somalia, I met people who could very well be pirates. In ordinary life they can be peaceful citizens, have a peaceful profession, and in free time engage in piracy. Somalis are an amazing people, I have never met such positive-minded people. The man has nothing but a ramshackle house made of wicker twigs and a dollar a day for food, but he beams with a smile. Skeptics say that the reason for this is khat, a narcotic herb that Somalis chew everywhere. Chew this khat and your soul will feel cheerful and carefree. But seriously, pirates are certainly given confidence by the fact that the crews of the ships they capture, as a rule, do not offer them any resistance. Because sea robbers act with lightning speed. They unexpectedly attack the ship and actively fire at it with grenade launchers and machine guns. But even in those cases when it is possible to neutralize the pirates, they are soon released. (Many experts believe that representatives of local authorities and the police cover up for pirates, because they share their loot with them. - Ed.)

There is a special attitude towards Russians in Somalia. In the 70-80s. in Somalia they built a local model of socialism, and good relations were built between our countries. Especially before the Somali-Ethiopian war of 1977, where Soviet Union had to take the side of Ethiopia. Many Somalis studied in the USSR. I met them during my trip to Somalia. This, without any exaggeration, is white bone, the most educated people in the country.

In July of this year, the UN adopted a document allowing the navy of a third country to enter the territorial waters of Somalia and suppress the activities of pirates. Is there a force now capable of bringing order to Somalia and ending piracy?

As recent events have shown, the Somali Sharia Courts Union has proven its ability to restore order and curb crime. But as soon as they managed to strengthen themselves and begin to unify southern Somalia, the United States intervened in the situation, which, through the hands of Ethiopia, prevented the unification process in the country. The US interest is to prevent the creation of a unified and strong Islamic state in Somalia. Ethiopia is also not interested in reviving Somali statehood. After the death of more than 130 UN peacekeepers and the loss of about $3 billion in 1993 during Operation Restore Hope, the world community has no desire to get involved in squabbles between clans.

On October 1, the ambassador of the virtually non-existent state of Somalia announced that the Somali government would soon recognize South Ossetia and Abkhazia. How do you assess this step?

From a tactical point of view, perhaps this is a good move, but from a strategic point of view, it is utter stupidity. The motives of the Somali leadership are clear. It is making this gesture of goodwill in the hope of receiving support from Moscow. If Somalia recognizes Abkhazia and South Ossetia, then the United States will have no reason not to recognize Somaliland, where the Americans have certain interests. And then it will be possible to put a big fat cross on the unity of Somalia.

* At the time of signing, we did not have a number new information about the fate of the Faina and the crew.

Pirate hijackings in the 21st century

According to the International Center for Combating Piracy, since the beginning of the 21st century, ships from 62 countries* have been attacked in the coastal seas of 56 countries. More than a hundred groups are engaged in maritime robbery.

According to the classification of the International Maritime Organization, modern pirate groups are divided into three types:

1. Small groups (up to 5 people), armed with knives and pistols. They attack ships in a harbor or on the high seas, using the factor of surprise. They rob the ship's cash register and passengers, and offload some of the cargo onto their boats. The total number is from 8-10 thousand people around the world.

2. Gangs (up to 30 people), armed with heavy machine guns, machine guns and grenade launchers, often kill the crew of a captured ship and take the ship and cargo. The total number is about 300 thousand people around the world.

3. International organized groups seize ships with particularly valuable cargo (today it is oil and petroleum products). They have modern satellite navigation and communications, an intelligence network, and cover in government agencies. Most often, tankers, bulk carriers, and container ships are robbed. Sometimes private yachts are attacked. In 2001, a scandal occurred - pirates in the Amazon killed America's Cup winner, yachtsman Peter Blake. Experts believe that pirate syndicates have used stolen ships to create a shipping network with a turnover of about $5 billion a year.

Geography of action Pirates XXI centuries - coastal waters of Asia, Africa, Latin America.

Main attack areas:

1. Southeast Asia and the South China Sea (Strait of Malacca, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand).
2. West Africa (Nigeria, Senegal, Angola, Ghana), Indian Ocean, East Africa (India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Somalia, Tanzania).
3. South America and the Caribbean (Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Guyana).

The most “popular” place for attacks is the coastal waters of Indonesia.

The annual damage from piracy around the world is $40 billion.

Based on the annual reports of the International Maritime Bureau:

In 2000, there were 469 pirate attacks on ships worldwide
in 2001 - 344
in 2002 - 370
in 2003 - 344
in 2004 - 329
in 2005 - 276
in 2006 - 239
in 2007 - 263

Statistics on Russian ships are distorted, since 60% of ships sail under the flags of other countries of the world, that is, they are simply rented out together with a Russian crew.

* This figure is not final, as many shipowners are afraid to report pirate attacks to the police, fearing retaliation from criminals, corrupt officials and police in coastal countries.

Latest tragedies at sea

The cargo ship "Captain Uskov" under the flag of Cambodia left the Russian port of Nakhodka for Hong Kong on January 15, 2008, but did not arrive at the destination port. The ship's crew consisted of 17 Russians, including 22-year-old barmaid Ekaterina Zakharova, who was on her first voyage. There were 4.5 thousand tons of metal on board the ship. The International Center for Combating Piracy joined the search for the ship and crew, which distributed information with its description throughout the world. Even if the ship has been repainted, its name and flag changed, it can be recognized by its individual characteristics. Hopes for success are low.

On February 1, 2008, off the coast of Somalia, pirates captured the icebreaking tugboat Switzer Korsakov, which was sailing from St. Petersburg to Sakhalin under the flag of the state of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The team consists of one Englishman, one Irishman, and four Russian citizens. The kidnappers received a ransom of 700 thousand dollars for the ship and crew. It was paid by the Switzer Weissmuller company, which owns the tug. Negotiations with pirates were conducted from February 1 to March 18, 2008.

How to fight

On November 16, 1994, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea was adopted, according to which all states must cooperate to the fullest extent possible in the suppression of piracy on the high seas or any other place beyond the jurisdiction of any country.

In 1991, the International Chamber of Commerce established an Anti-Piracy Center in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur.

Works in California (USA) The educational center training specialists to combat sea robbers. He trains anti-piracy units for the navies of Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand.

The Maritime Doctrine of the Russian Federation, approved by President Putin on July 21, 2001, notes: “Intensifying cooperation with the countries of the Asia-Pacific region to ensure maritime safety and combat piracy” is one of the areas of state activity.

At a plenary meeting of the State Duma on October 1, 2008, the chamber approved a protocol instruction to the Security Committee to request information from the relevant ministries and departments “on measures taken to solve the problem of international piracy, ensuring the security of international trade routes, including jointly with other members of the international community.” .

On September 23, 2008, Russia sent from Baltic Sea The destroyer Neustrashimy entered the coastal waters of Somalia. The Statement of the Russian Navy Command states that this was done “in response to the increasing incidence of piracy in the region, the victims of which are also Russian citizens.” Neustrashimy is not yet taking active steps, as negotiations are ongoing with pirates.

There were victories...

In 2005, the cruise ship Seaborn Spirit was attacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia. They appeared unexpectedly on speedboats, armed with machine guns and grenade launchers, and fired at the ship.

The witty captain used an unconventional means of fighting - an acoustic cannon. She stunned the pirates. The ship managed to move to a safe distance.

In May 2006, a real naval battle took place off the coast of Somalia: pirates opened fire on US Navy warships. The guided-missile cruiser Cape St. George and the guided-missile destroyer Gonzales responded with salvos of missile launchers. As a result of the special operation, 12 pirates were detained, including 5 wounded. The impudence of the filibusters who entered into battle with modern warships is amazing.

Contrary to general belief, the life of pirates was strictly regulated. Gambling, fighting, and drunkenness were prohibited on the ship. Failure to comply with orders was severely punished. For the presence of a woman on board, the culprit was expected to be hanged. Anyone who voluntarily left a ship or his place during a battle was sentenced to death or landing on a desert island.

When recruiting a crew, the captain drew up an agreement outlining all aspects of the joint fishery. Pirates were based on the islands, often creating peculiar “republics”, the most famous of which is Tortuga. There was an unwritten code of conduct on land that regulated the lives of sea robbers. The pirates did not mint their own money, preferring to use the loot, not just piastres.

The famous pirate Alexander Exquemelin, who “moonlighted” as a sea robbery in 1667 - 1672, wrote in the book “Pirates of America” that gentlemen of fortune help each other. If the pirate has nothing, he is supplied with what he needs, waiting a long time for payment. The trial of the members of the pirate brotherhood was carried out by themselves, considering each case individually. The captain of the ship was an inviolable figure, his power was absolute, as long as he did not make a mistake in the eyes of the crew, who could take their life for it.

Equality and brotherhood did not extend to the division of spoils. Team members who were not directly involved in the battle received less than their colleagues. The owner of the ship received half of all production. The captain was entitled to 2-3 shares, his assistants received 1.75 shares; newcomers, participating in battle for the first time, were content with a quarter share. Moreover, at first the loot was put into a common pile. After which the captain carried out the distribution, taking into account the need to have money to repair the ship, replenish supplies of provisions, gunpowder, bullets and cannonballs.

The division did not affect captured weapons - everything you took in battle is yours. For severe injuries, compensation was awarded, about 400 ducats. The famous English navigator and pirate Henry Morgan diversified the payments: the right hand was worth 600 pesos, the left hand or right leg - 500 pesos, for the loss of the left leg there were 400 pesos, eyes - 100 pesos. In 1600, one peso was equal to approximately 50 modern pounds sterling. Medicines and medical care were highly valued. Even Blackbeard, merciless to his opponents, obtained three doctors for his team.

Anyone who wanted to quit piracy had to pay the team 10,000 in any currency.