History - For 300 years the Barbary Pirates remained a formidable power in the Mediterranean, but their dominion finally came to an end. During the early 1800's, the United States launched two major naval and land campaigns against Algiers, Tunis and Tripoli that effectively ended the harassment of shipping and piracy by the Barbary pirates.
Pirate Bio - John Eaton - An English pirate during the 1680's, Eaton took several Spanish vessels on his own, then joined with John Cook, Charles Swan, and Peter Harris to attack several large Spanish towns and vessels. In time they were joined by more pirates, and bought blank commissions from the Governor of San Dominque to become privateers. Eaton's fate is unknown.
Ship Fact - In general, pirates were more likely to worry about how they could gain extra sped and maneuverability as well as extra armament on their vessels, comfort at sea was not something they cared about much. Because of this, there were certain types of ships that pirates favored, including pinnaces, sloops, brigantines, and square riggers.
Term of the week -The word "Fathom" is a nautical term used to describe the measurement of the depth of the water. A fathom is 6 feet and was originally conceived as the distance of a sailor's outstretched arms from fingertip to fingertip. A weighted line of rope with knots spaced 6 feet apart would be dropped over the side in order to guage depth.
Word of the week - Barbeque (a modern word derived during the age of the pirates) The native Taino tribes of Hispaniola taught hunters (often marooned there) how to use a boucan, a wooden frame of green sticks and boughs, and how to smoke meat on it. The Taino called this method of cooking barbicoa, from which our term barbeque comes from. (so remember when yer Barbequing mate, your doing something piratey! LOL!)
Drink of the week - "Toke" An alcoholic beverage made from fermented Honey.
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Punishment/torture of the week: - "Boiling water in the ears" - A victim of this kind of torture would lose his hearing possibly forever. A victim was either tied or held down, with his head turned to the side and a pot of boiling water was poured into his ear. A real unfortunate victim would have this happen to both ears. Boiling oil was tried early on in this torture but the victim seldom lived to give any information. Scarring also occurred as the boiling water poured out of the ear onto the facial skin.
