hurricane

Outside of Tamara Easton, Diosa here is the expert. But since she is already performing in a couple of Mary Read stage plays, I don't know how forthcoming she would be at this time. Hurricane

Oh, and while I'm at it, your discussion of matchlock, doglock et al is spot on. Buccaneers had the most modern weaponry they could get hold of, especially their rifles. The reason they were so successful on campaign was their ability to outshoot the Spanish, roughly three to one. The matchlock was painfully unpredictable and slow to fire. That said, the pistols were probably a mix of everything, as it was common to board a ship, fire the pistol, smash someone over the head with it and drop it to focus on use of the cutlass. Following battle, the deck would have any number of different weapons on it, from those dropped as well as those among the dead. Good reasoning throughout, sir. -- Hurricane

Great stuff. I've seen that description of the boucan before and it is the most exact representation of how it was done. There is still a place in San Antonio in Jamaica that prepares the pig the same way. Thanks for sharing the ritual with us. I had forgotten about it. -- Hurricane

$10 is a cheap price for this event. It is amazing and something everyone should attend at least once. -- Hurricane

Um, Sir Henry Morgan is buried in the Pallisadoes near Port Royal. He was buried in a very public ceremony and interred in a lead lined coffin in the old cemetery. He stayed there until the 1692 earthquake, at which point that part of the cemetery slid into what is now Kingston Harbour. He remains there to this day. It's no secret where he's located. It's actually very well documented in Jamaica. As long as we are on the subject, Sir Henry by his station had land. I've been to it. Noel Coward later owned it. His wife Sarah lived there and maintained the plantation while he was "away on business." And yes, he was a buccaneer - true to the crown and only attacked the Spanish. Buccaneers are very different from the pirates who came later on. As far as the buccaneer era, it is fairly well documented (and I can only speak of the English buccaneers in Port Royal time) that nothing would have been buried outside of perhaps, Isle de Vaca, where the buccaneers met regularly to plan expeditions. Rarely would the ship return to a given location in an predictable point of time. So, you buried your treasure on Roatan but your captain never returned there. Remember, these folks didn't live a long time. It was a short life and a merry one. If you didn't get killed on a campaign, you could die of injuries and illness aboard ship, or be shot dead on a street in Port Royal over a fight for a whore. So why would you think of saving any money? For retirement? So what would be the point of burying treasure on a beach or island you may never return to? Especially one that would be safe enough (i.e., probably remote and uncharted). Unless you're the captain, chances are slim you'll ever return there. And remember, even a small chest of gold is damned heavy. It's not like you can just spirit one away without other crewe members knowing about it. A cubic foot of gold weighs 1200 pounds. Even a golf ball sized sphere of gold is 2.2 pounds. It wasn't easy to move this stuff around. It's not like it was in the movies where bullion bars are being tossed around like a small sack of flour. For the most part (and again, buccaneers in this particular age) returned to town wealthy and quickly blew the money on booze, whores, new weapons and gambling. They weren't seeking security. They were seeking adventure and in many cases, revenge against the Spanish. I'm sure there are cases where an idiot buried his treasure. But I don't think it's human nature to leave your wealth out of sight and out of mind. If it was, why do people stuff their mattresses full of money today? They want to be as close to it as possible. -- Hurricane

Wow, he's in my own hometown. How fortuitous. I feel a shopping adventure coming on. -- Hurricane

Intrigomon... That would largely depend on two things, unfortunately. Our ability to preserve it (as we know, data left on Zip drives, Syquest Drives and eventually, even VHS, film, CDs and DVDs will be lost if we don't transfer them to new media) and our ability not to destroy it (think the ancient libraries, the knowledge of the Mayans and the Aztecs). We like to think we are smarter these days, but think of the valuable art, writings, etc. lost in the bombings of WWII or much of the Haitian collections because of a natural disaster. Inevitably, the future will know of us because of what we protect and preserve, as well as what we choose to pass on (as you know, history books, press clippings, news reports, etc. are entirely subjective works, based on the author's prejudices and subjectivity). And let's throw in a little convenient revisionism at the same time. That's what I get for snorting red wine. :) -- Hurricane

Thanks Foxe, I just blew red wine out my snotbox. Too funny. I think he was wearing boots, by the way, if you take the Buck Rogers in the 25th Century TV series as gospel. :) I'm pretty sure we're the first generations (from say, the turn of the century even) that hasn't enough to do to survive that we think up a thing like re-enacting. I think any family member doing such an activity in the Midwest when there were crops to tend to would have had a switch taken to them. We've come to a point in our lives where we don't have to toil 24/7 just to survive, so we can have the luxury of this activity. And even then we have to exercise selective choice - can't be a Nazi, a Taliban or probably even a rum runner running around town in a 28 Ford with a tommy gun blazing. Now where was my black spandex... got to get back to my Ice Pirates representation. -- Hurricane

True boucan wasn't like jerky. It was smoked and cured over green pimento wood which gave it the allspice flavor - allspice itself wasn't used on the meat - the wood did all the work. Over time the meet would indeed harden and become jerky like, but not at the beginning. Only as it dried out did it become this way. After six months, it had very little flavor to it. Interestingly, the Caribees used the same process to cure human flesh, so widespread was the practice. Even after a long day fishing, the natives would still take the time to build the wood grate and create the little fire below it to start boucanning the fish. It was a slow cook process, not high heat. This kept the meat moist and flavorful. There's a great description in Burney's History of the Buccaneers of America, including the etymology of how came to use the terms buccaneer and filibuster. -- Hurricane

Now there's going to be some name calling ... Chocolate cake eater!!! Take that! -- Hurricane

I wasn't going to say a word, but now I'm really ticked. I like cake. And this is an affront to all of us who do. Hurricane

He will return hopefully, but as a judge this year. Who better to judge others than one who has been judged three times and emerged victorious? When there is another three-peater, they will then go for the glory of the first one to do it authentically... and die with honor and dignity in the depths of Key West. -- Hurricane

The Pyrates of the Coast are pleased to announce that the 6th Annual National Walk the Plank Championships will be held during Pirates in Paradise this year. With the retirement of D'ogge as the champion, there will be undoubtedly lots of new competition this year to see who the next champion will be. -- Hurricane

For those making initial plans, the tentative schedule has been updated at http://www.piratesinparadise.com/schedule/index.html. The site is being moved to a new server at this moment so if you get an error, it's temporary and that's the reason for it. - Hurricane

SCHOONER WOLF LEADING FLOTILLA TO HAITI WITH RELIEF SUPPLIES Florida, USA - The number is now a dozen boats, and it's growing daily. Led by the 74 foot schooner Wolf out of Key West, a flotilla of yachts is preparing to bring much needed aid and emergency supplies to the more remote coastal and outlying areas of earthquake-stricken Haiti, going where the large ships and major responders can't easily reach. Their goal for the voyage is simply to give help where it's needed most, and you can join in this admirable endeavor. Organized by the non-profit group OceansWatch, the boats will be loaded with as much as they can safely carry, and are scheduled to set sail on February 8th. A second flotilla is gathering in Jamaica, and there are more yachts throughout the Caribbean either planning to set sail or already en route to bring humanitarian aid to the people of Haiti, hundreds of thousands of whom are struggling daily to find food, water and shelter. How can you help? If you have a seaworthy boat in Florida or the Caribbean, are available to crew on another boat, or if you have supplies of food, shelter, medicines, tools, tarps, water containers, shipping containers, or any other appropriate items which you would like to donate, please send an email to sequoia@oceanswatch.org with the details. If it's not possible for you to take part in the flotilla directly, you can help provide funding for the acquisition of supplies by making a charitable donation. Oceans Watch pledges that 100% of funds donated will go directly to purchase aid supplies to be delivered by yachts heading for Haiti. You may donate by PayPal or Credit Card here, or by check or money order sent to: Haiti Relief OceansWatch North America PO Box 616 Norwalk, CT 06856 USA

I may be joining you, Animal. Idiot light went on in the Vue today... with the holidays, don't know if I can get it in by time to leave Monday night. -- Hurricane

You may want to reconsider entering as Diosa won't be making herself available for kissing this year. Or maybe that's an incentive for more to enter. -- Hurricane

The City Jail always has space. Just get arrested for something that requires a morning appearance before the magistrate. I'm sure they'll be glad to take you to the airport too - the old one way ticket out of town on a rail. -- Hurricane

Is myspace still around? Haven't been there in ages. -- Hurricane

It was originally designed to be held in Seattle in the summertime - up there, we don't mind jumping in 55 degree water. The polar bear groups always jump in the day after Thanksgiving up there. We could combine it with a "wet t-shirt" judging criteria in the colder climes. :) The waters at Green Turtle Cay are the ideal - crystal clear and warm... I might even jump off. -- Hurricane

I would love to take the winner this year to a future one to defend. That is the goal, that the defending champ will defend the title wherever it's held. Like the Olympics, but it's OK to be drunk in our competition. Thank you Spike. Actually, this should have been the sixth annual. In 2006 it was going to be in Port Royal Jamaica, but their festival fell through. thank you so much for the kind words. Appreciate it sir and look forward to seeing you next week. And yes, you're right - the high seas, although off an overpass on I-95 would have a lot higher stakes... :) If the Green Turtle venue falls through, it may be headed to Stuart perhaps next year, though John's Pass is a good option as well. -- Hurricane

Just a note to everyone as well. This will be the last year that the National Walk the Plank Championships will be held in Key West for a while. Next year, it is tentatively scheduled for May in the Abacos at the Green Turtle Heritage Festival and then will become a signature event at other festivals up and down the East Coast and hopefully, the Caribbean. Our crewe is taking her on the road. :) -- Hurricane

Well said, William... not much more one can say. Hurricane

Seems with subscriptions down across the board and many top magazines failing for lack of subscribers and ad revenue, a magazine would be bending over to keep its subscribers happy. No subscribers, no ad revenue. Maybe someone's a better pirate than we are. Hahaha -- Hurricane

Callenish - you can punch him in the snot box down at PiP -- he'll be there. Brave soul... -- Hurricane