1823	Light Squadrons and Single Ships	392

responsibility, considering the concealment of the wine very suspicious, and believing it to be some of the captured property taken by the pirate, he embarked it. It was afterwards condemned, and sold at Jamaica for 60001., two thirds of which was deducted from the captors for government and colonial-duties, thus leaving only 20001 to be shared ; whereas, had Captain Walcott failed to establish this cargo as the property of the pirates, he would have been liable to the full extent of 60001.

On the 28th of March the Captain of an American pilot-boat confirmed the intelligence already received relative to the pirate. She was described as a schooner, named the Zaragonaza, of 120 tons, carrying one long 18-pounder on a swivel, four long 9-pounders, and eight swivels, commanded by a desperate character, named Cayatano Arogonez, having a crew of between 70 and 80 men. Captain Walcott further learnt from the informer that he had been detained on board this vessel, and that during the time of his detention information reached the commander of the pirate that several men, a part of the crew of a piratical vessel, captured during a former cruise of the Tyne, had been hung at Jamaica. These men had given some proofs of a merciful disposition, for previously to their capture they had taken a small vessel tender to the Tyne in which were Lieutenant Hobson and 20 men. According to the general custom of the bloodthirsty savages they proceeded in their preparations to hang their captives, and actually placed the rope round the neck of Hobson and his men. The " still small voice" of conscience, however, seems to have awakened the last slumber of mercy, and ultimately they not only spared the lives of Lieutenant Hobson and his men, but, after a few days detention, allowed them to return to their ships. The execution of their brother pirates at Jamaica, after this rare mercy, was viewed by Cayatano Arogonez as an infamous, ungenerous, savage act ; and he resolved to take ample revenge upon all unfortunate men who should fall into his hands. He summoned his crew, and, with barbarous ferocity, excited them to bind themselves by the most sacred obligation, under the form of an oath, that henceforth no Englishman's life should be spared, and that to avoid the retaliation which would certainly ensue in the event of their capture, they swore, rather than surrender to be hung, to blow up their vessel, their crew, and their assailants. To crown this horrid act of determination it was requisite forthwith to procure a victim, that, passing the rubicon of crime, their consciences might become accustomed to the deed, and themselves cease to shudder at murder. A cry was raised to sacrifice the black cook, a native of Jamaica (and consequently if not an Englishman, one under the protection of the English flag), whom they had removed from a vessel they had captured. In

^ back to top ^