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! Captain Kidd's crew voted 100 to 15 to mutiny and to give loyalty to the Mocha Frigate, under the command of pirate Captain Robert Culliford.
They unloaded all the cargo from the Adventure Prize and transferred it to the Mocha Frigate. They then stripped all three of Captain Kidd's ship's of all equipment, anchors, rigging, rope, sails and anything else of value.
History is not clear on how this happened but Captain Culliford agreed to return Captain Kidd's portion of the treasure and the shares to his limited crew of 13 sailors.
If this is reported correctly it would mean that 40% of the treasure would have been returned to Captain Kidd and the shares to his crew.
Captain Culliford then proceeded to sink the November, leaving Captain Kidd with two stripped down ships and a very limited crew.
In 1698 the King of England awarded a general pardon to all of the known pirates and privateers, however Captain Kidd was not part of that action. There was now an all out search for Captain Kidd.
Captain Kidd was able to savage enough gear left on board the Adventure Galley, he transferred it to the Adventure Prize.
The Adventure Prize traveled south along the coast of Madagascar stopping at two ports. They stopped at Port Dolphin to acquire provisions and Tulear, to recruit sailors for the journey.
From Madagascar they traveled up the coast of Africa avoiding Port's and shipping lanes fetching Annoban Africa off the coast of Guinea and Cameroon.
After provisioning they set a course directly for the Virgin Islands to the small Island of Mona off the coast of Puerto Rico. They reached Mona ten months after the Mutiny at Madagascar.
Prior to arriving at Mona they stopped at Antigua for provisions and gossip. The ship Adventure Prize was leaking badly and in need of major repairs.
Captain Kidd was able to sell enough cargo/treasure to acquire a sloop rigged ship, which was faster and less cumbersome than a cargo vessels.
Captain Kidd established a friendship with Captain Henry Bolton who he bought the sloop St. Antonio from. He then arranged for Captain Bolton to watch the Adventure Galley with the bulk of the treasure aboard.
At Captain Bolton s suggestion they moved the Adventure Prize to Santa Catalina Island 1.5 miles off the southeastern coast of the Dominican Republic.
They moved the large cargo vessel into a lagoon in the middle of the island. He Authorized Captain Bolton to sell the cargo if he received a good price.
Although history reports that he had just met Captain Bolton on this trip. I feel that he knew him previously. You wouldn't leave all your possessions with a stranger least of all a major quantity of treasure, nice guy or not!
Captain Kidd then departed for New York intending to return in ninety days. His intention was to approach Governor Bellomont the Governor of New York with the intention of getting the charges of piracy dropped.
Captain Kidd had many influential friends in New York. He was politically active and his wife was very prominent. He wanted to present what he had done on the Indian Ocean campaign, all within the bounds of his agreement with the Governor and King.
When he arrived in New York he was immediately arrested but he wouldn't reveal the location of the Adventure Prize.
He felt he could use the treasure to barter for his freedom. The Governor was trying to get two ships together, one of which was the St. Antonio which he had confiscated. The Governor was trying to sponsor a mission going to the Caribbean to recover the treasure.
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