The Pirates part III

In the “Pirate Hunter” Richard Zack points out that Captain Kidd was a Scott lording over a English and Dutch crew. Once he rounds the Cape of Good Hope, he will find no friendly ports of refuge, except pirate ports.

   On the twenty eight million square miles of the Indian Ocean they needed to find five European pirate ships. Most of which are carrying relatives and friends of his crew! He had a one year time limit and some of the most powerful men in the world waiting for his return!

   On August 19, 1697 the Adventure Galley captured a East India Company ship near Janjira India. After torturing the crew he took the British Captain captive and forced him to serve as a pilot (guide) for several month's.

   Continuing along the Indian Coast in a southerly direction they were in several other skirmishes at sea, finally arriving at Laccadive Island.

   The Adventure Galley attacked the natives forcing the men into slave labor, they cut up their boats and used them for firewood and they raped their women.

  That November they encountered another East India Company ship. For an unknown reason, the crew wanted to attack but the Captain convinced the crew to stand down!

  A few weeks later they encountered a Dutch ship, which they were going to engage. The Chief Gunnersmate, didn't want to engage, probably because he was Dutch, and the Captain killed the sailor.

  A few weeks later in December they captured the Dutch ship Rouparelle. She was flying the French flag and had a French letter of Marque.

   Captain Kidd changed the Dutch ships name to November. The following month on January 30, 1698 Captain Kidd was responsible for the largest treasure haul in the history of piracy.

  They defeated and captured the 350 ton Quedah Merchant, an Armenian ship leased to the East India Company.

   Her cargo included 1200 muslin's, 84 bales of raw silk, iron, 1400 bags of brown sugar, saltpeter, guns and gold coins.

  Before Captain Kidd boarded the Quedah Merchant the French sailor at the helm of the tender stated “Here is a good prize”!

  The capture of the Quedagh Merchant and the Rouparelle caused scandal throughout the British Empire. Captain Kidd was proclaimed not a pirate hunter, but a pirate!

  Captain Kidd embarased the British Crown because he ruined England's reputation for safety at sea. Merchants were becoming afraid to ship with the East India Company.            Shipping along the African and Indian coasts was dramatically affected.

  The East Indian Company had other problems other than Captain Kidd, but all of the piracy was putting the company in dire straits.

  The East Indian Company was forced to deal with having all European interests expelled from India. The East Indian Company fully reimbursed the merchants for the losses of the Quedah Merchant, agreed to the King of India's demands to send armed patrols to the South Indian Sea, and paid many bribes along the way.

  Captain Kidd now had three ship's. The Quedah Merchants name was changed to the Adventure Prize. The Rouparelle name was changed to November and Adventure Galley was the Flag ship.

  The ships were split up and were to rendezvous in Madagascar at St. Mary's Island. It was six weeks until all the ships were together at St. Mary's.

  Captain Kidd was on the Adventure Merchant, which was exchanging some cargo for L10,000. of gold and provisions, for the three ship's.

  These ship's were about to make a very long journey. Captain Kidd arrived at St. Mary's first and waited for the rest of his fleet to catch up with him.

  Being pirates once again they could only use pirate friendly ports, after leaving Madagascar, there will be essentially no stopping.

  However Captain Kidd still considered himself a pirate hunter, and he was in a target rich environment. Madagascar was a haven for pirates.

  The Mocha Frigate, under the command of pirate Captain Robert Culliford was to be the next target.

  The Captain summoned the crews from all three ship's to discuss battle strategy. However he wasn't aware of the air of discontent that had settled over the crew who hadn't been paid in almost two years! A mutiny was now in place!

  Captain Kidd felt both of these captures were legal and in line with the letter of commission issued by the King of England.

  The King of England put out the word that captain Kidd was a pirate!