|
The information
below was put together by a friend in 1998 for an online RP
and might be very useful for writing fiction.
The section
is a listing of many of the major colonies and islands in
the Caribbean. Every listing will show the physical description,
the commerce data, and the nationality of the colony.
The mainland
varies in character by region with each region having its
own appearance and feel. New
Andalisia (modern Venezeuela) has rocky and sandy beaches,
with the sands quickly giving way to verdant vegetation. Within
a mile from shore, the vegetation becomes dense jungle, at
least in uninhabited regions. The settlers slashed or burned
the area around the village for agriculture.
New
Granada is mountainous in the south, with the isthmus
of Panama being a 50 mile wide mire
from Pacific to Atlantic. The jungle vegetation in both New
Andalusia and New
Granada is insect-infested and Malaria is common.
New
Spain ranges from forested mountains in the south to deserts
in the north. The central region is mountainous and rocky,
with lands being cleared or terraced for farmland.
Larger
Islands are much like the mainland, with sandy beaches, dense
forest or jungle, and a mountainous interior. Some islands
have active volcanoes, with a constant plume of smoke rising
from their cones.
Small
islands are formed from volcanic action or reefs. Small, circular
islands formed by reefs are called atolls and have low vegetation
on the outer edge and a body of salt water in the center.
Small islands formed by reefs and tidal action have little
in the way of large vegetation and frequently are not fertile
enough for sustaining crops. These islands are hard to spot
from a distance unless they are sizeable or in shallow water,
such as the Bahamas. Therse small, low islands are referred
to as cays.
Small
volcanic islands are dominated by the peak (or peaks) of the
volcano. These islands have steep slopes and fertile ground.
Architecture
Most
Spanish settlements look the same and many French settlements
look similar. English settlements are also similar to each
other.
Spanish
houses have stone or stucco walls and curved-tile roofs. Stucco
(a process for applying plaster) is more common on the islands,
while stone is common on the mainland. Spanish architecture
in New
Spain resembles that of the native peoples in many areas,
especially in that most doors and windows are trapezoidal
and most walls are angled at 80 degrees instead of 90. Spanish
cathedrals and churches are built in a 'new-world baroque'
style with gilded domes and narrow point-arched windows. Spanish
cities have 'plazas' with fountains and wide open spaces.
French
homes are also made of stucco and are characterized by having
many shuttered windows and balconies. The roofs are made with
Spanish tiles (the curved ones) or wooden shingles. French
cathedrals and churches are constructed in the traditional
style from cut-stone blocks in a cruciform shape with flying
buttresses and stained glass. French Huguenot churches have
a steeple and bell-tower and are painted uniformly white with
dark wooden shingles.
English
homes are wide and low, constructed of wood with stucco, stone,
or clay bricks. In cities like Port-Royal,
the houses become much taller and narrower, with balconies
and second-story porches. English churches are subdued and
small, fitting into the odd spaces that they are afforded.
Dutch
buildings are wood-paneled with wood shingles. Dutch churches
are similar and closely resemble those of the Huguenots without
the white paint. Dutch settlements have a 'cramped' feel,
as the Dutch are accustomed to building small (in terms of
area) towns and cities.
LOCALES
This
section gives a brief overview of some of the major locales
in the areas
Antigua
Lush
green rolling hills and scores of coves mark the islands of
Antigua (pronounced an-TEE-Ga or an-TEE-Gwa) and nearby Barbuda.
Most of the coast of Antigua is a treacherous approach for
seafarers, being ringed by shoals and large coral reefs. Pirates,
in their shallower-draft ships (such as barques and sloops)
can negotiate these reefs however, to make use of the numerous
coves for shelter.
Antigua's
skyline is dominated by Boggy Peak, which rises to 1300 feet
above sea level. Antigua is 16 miles from east to west at
its widest point.
Settled
by the English in 1632, Antigua is a very important colony.
It serves as a re-supply depot for vessels of the admiralty
when in the Lesser Antilles. Antigua's center of population
is the town of St. John, while nearby Barbuda is unsettled
by Europeans.
A center
for agriculture and shipping for the Lesser Antilles, Antigua
has a large population of African and native slaves there
for working the fields and docks. Slaves outnumber settlers
by a ratio of seven to one and as such are treated very well
by Caribbean standards.
The current
Governor is not authorized to issue Letters of Marque and
Reprisal so ships which have preyed on other vessels will
not be rewarded or subsidized, but no one will question the
sale of plundered goods.
Antigua
has a large native population of colorful parrots which are
very popular with the sailors of the region.
In the
early 18th century, Antigua becomes an important
naval base for the English and the native parrot species becomes
extinct.
Aruba
West
of Curaçao lies Aruba, a dry,
flat, barren island with little in the way of vegetation.
Aruba is noted for the great boulders which litter the island.
Aruba
was settled halfheartedly by the Dutch in 1634, who quickly
became at odds with the local population of Arawak tribesmen.
The two populations have had little in the way of open hostility
but steer clear of each other when possible.
Aruba
has a third group of inhabitants: Pirates. The island has
nothing that passes for a proper town or port, only a few
fishing villages and plantations. Pirates, therefore have
made Aruba a center for activity, turning many villages into
small havens. Despite this, Aruba is still not as large a
center for Pirates as Port-Royal,
Nassau or Tortuga,
nor as lawless.
Aruba
has an inflated economy due to the pirate presence.
Barbados
Named
for its native bearded figs by Portuguese sailors who stopped
there during the Spanish colonization, Barbados is Portuguese
for 'bearded.' Covered in low vegetation and weak, thin trees,
Barbados lies low in the water, having no large mountains
and only a small rise.
Barbados
is partially surrounded by reefs on the eastern and southern
shores. These shores face the Atlantic Ocean and the reefs
provide some protection and shelter from waves.
Barbados
never changed hands during the period. It was settled in 1627
by the English and soon after, Dutch Jews also came and made
the island their home. Two small towns serve the population;
Holetown is the home to many of the English and Bridgetown
is home to many of the Jews.
The two
populations of settlers interact peacefully and there is little
strife or contention between the two.
Belize
The only
English settlement on the coast of Central America, Belize
is on the southeast shore of the Yucatan peninsula in New
Spain. Belize is characterized by rugged highlands covered
heavily with trees (softwoods and hardwoods).
English
loggers settled in this Spanish-claimed territory in 1660
and began to set up their business of cutting and milling
trees. Spanish authorities have tried on several occasions
to get the loggers to leave, but have not yet used military
force.
Throughout
the period, as time progresses, this settlement will become
a point of contention between the Spanish and the English.
The loggers
main port village is St. George's Cay, which has a dedicated
sawmill for the production of lumber.
The loggers
coexist with some Spanish settlers who have moved to St. George's
Cay. Also living in the vicinity is a large native population
of Mayan Indians. The Indian population a disease epidemic
(brought by the Spanish originally), but the plague (influenza)
in the late 17th century passed within a few years
and the Mayans became much more evident and began trading
with the English settlers.
Bermuda
Bermuda
is a low, sandy coral island covered with a tropical forest.
Low lying vegetation and scrub lies beneath the canopy and
on the beaches, almost reaching to the ocean.
Bermuda
was settled in 1612 by the English and serves as its main
staging point for colonization of the Caribbean and Southern
North America. Slaves from India and Africa were brought in
1616 and Bermuda became a center for English slavers for a
short while but this has since ended, as has slave-taking
from India. Some Hindus still hive on the island, but many
have since returned to Asia.
The royal
admiralty keeps a few of its larger vessels here as a reserve
for several nearby areas (Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Antigua,
Nevis, and Nassau)
and the King has appointed a Governor.
Bermuda
is a stopping point for ships of all nations on the way from
Europe to the Caribbean and back.
Bonaire
Lying
on the southeast flank of Curaçao,
Bonaire serves as a haven for the less savory persons of the
Caribbean. Bonaire is dotted with low hills and little in
the way of vegetation. Farming is difficult here but not impossible
and only done for subsistence.
Bonaire
was settled by the Dutch in 1634 and it is considered part
of the colony at Curaçao. Bonaire
is home to the region's biggest slave market. Slave ships
from Africa and South America call at this port making it
unnaturally busy.
Bonaire
has no natural fresh water and is essentially a desolate island.
Caracas
A large
settlement and port on the north coast of Venezuela, Caracas
is surrounded by verdant tropical forests and farmlands. Near
the old settlement of Borburata, Caracas has in recent years
become more and more important to the Spanish and is one of
the preeminent trading ports on the Spanish Main. Caracas
has a moderately sheltered deep harbor and a steady supply
of fresh water from mountain streams and inland lakes.
Caracas
was not officially settled but formed as much of the population
of Borburata migrated there over the last few decades. Borburata
was founded in 1525. Caracas is important to the economy of
New
Andalusia (Venezuela) and is steadily growing in power.
As with
all important Spanish ports, Caracas is under the imposition
of the averia (see Cartagena) and
smuggling is a lucrative trade.
Cartagena
East
of Panama on the northwest coast of South America lies the
citadel of Cartagena. Built into a deep sheltered harbor,
Cartagena is home to the largest fortification in the New
World at the time.
Cartagena
lies 250 miles to the East of Panama
and can be reached from there by land or sea.
Cartagena
is part of the colony of New Granada and is answerable to
the viceroyalty in Panama. It was settled
in 1533 and has never been completely taken, although a number
of raids on the fortress and the harbor have resulted in the
city becoming very heavily defended.
Cartagena
is the departure point for the flota, the Spanish 'plate
fleet,' or treasure fleet. The flota carries the riches
of The South American tribes to Europe late every summer.
The treasure fleet sails for Cartagena west to the coast of
New
Spain and then north along the coast to Cape Catoche (The
extreme northeast of the Yucatan), where it turns to east
by northeast and sails for Havana, where
it waits for the winds to change to favor sailing to Spain.
Cartagena
is extremely wealthy and is home to a great many Spanish noblemen
living in the New World.
Cartagena
is under the press of the Spanish tax known as the averia,
which is levied on imports and exports by the throne of Spain
to pay for escort ships on convoys leaving New
Granada and New
Spain. The averia results in many prices being greatly
inflated and profits being very low for many captains.
This
situation leads to a common opportunity at Spanish ports:
the noblemen want the luxury goods that they are accustomed
to at home in Spain. The goods are heavily taxed for import,
making them cost more for the nobles to purchase. The nobles,
however, are responsible for collecting and enforcing this
tax. Because of this, corruption runs rampant through the
nobility and bureaucracy and smugglers can make a fortune
in Cartagena.
Cuba
The largest
island in the Caribbean, Cuba is 780 miles long and averages
about 60 miles wide. It has several small chains of mountains
and is covered with softwood tropical forests. Animal and
plant life in enormous variety inhabit the island interior
and the numerous deep harbors are known for good fishing.
The island
is home to several score villages, many specializing in either
fishing or farming and two major cities: La Habana (Havana)
and Santiago de Cuba (Santiago).
Cuba
was founded in 1511 and is the staging area for all Spanish
commercial and military ventures into the New World.
Havana
Nearly
on the northernmost point of Cuba, The Cuban capitol Havana
is just 100 short miles from Florida. Havana is built on the
shores of a landlocked deep harbor guarded by a quartet of
fortresses. The city is home to nearly 10,000 Spanish and
natives and is one of the largest cities in the New World.
Havana is almost completely self sufficient and thrives on
commence with New
Spain, Hispaniola, and Spain.
Havana was founded by Diego Velazquez in 1515.
The four
fortresses guarding the harbor entrance and Havana make an
attack difficult if not impossible. They are the Castillo
de ha Fuerza (Castle of Strength), Castillo de la Punta
(Castle of the Point), Fortaleza de La Cabana (Fortress
of the House), and Castillo del Morro (Castle of the
Boar Snout). Havana itself is also surrounded by a wall and
a battery of large (36 pound) cannons.
Havana
is the last stop that the flota, or treasure fleet,
makes before returning to Spain. Each August or September,
the flota travels up the Mexican coast to Cuba and makes harbor
there waiting for the weather to be proper for departure.
Despite this, the flota is frequently slowed by autumn storms
and threatening hurricanes.
Havana
is under the influence of the avaria and all import and export
of goods is subject to the duty. Havana has much of the flavor
of castillian Spain and many nobles live there to purchase
smuggled goods.
Santiago
On the
southern coast of Cuba, Santiago is a major center of commercial
and military activity. Santiago was founded in 1514 and was
the capitol of Cuba until 1589. Lying in a river valley in
the Sierra Maestra chain of mountains, it is ideal for military
excursions into the Caribbean Sea. Santiago has become more
relaxed than other Spanish ports and the avaria is not as
enforced here as in other places.
Santiago
is a prosperous port city and nearly any good may be purchased
or sold here (although the price may not be a bargain). Morro
Castle stands guard over the harbor.
Santiago
is home to many of the least appealing of Spanish sailors;
crews may even be able to hire from this population. Santiago
is home to innumerable taverns, bars, and tap houses which
may get characters into any amount of trouble.
Cumana
The easternmost
anchor in New
Andalusia for Spanish ships, Cumana boasts a deep natural
harbor on a rocky coastline. Facing eastward, Cumana harbor
is an ideal stopping point for ships of many flags returning
from the eastern coast of South America.
Founded
in 1503 by the Spanish as a self-supporting fanning community,
Cumana has become a center of conflict between the Dutch and
the Spanish. The reason for this is that while Cumana was
found to have less than ideal soils for crops, the land was
ideal for the growing of tobacco. Cumana is the largest producing
tobacco colony for the Spanish and is therefore heavily taxed
to help pay the cost of colonization and escort ships. Dutch
smugglers have taken advantage of this and routinely smuggle
entire shiploads of tobacco out of Cumana.
Cumana's
deep, clear harbor and rocky sea bottom is an ideal nesting
ground for pearl oysters. Cumana boasts a massive pearl fishery
waiting to be harvested but jealously guarded by The Spanish
authorities.
To aid
in the protection of the fisheries, protect the east of New
Andalusia (Venezuela), and stop smugglers, the Viceroyalty
of New
Granada (which oversees Venezuela) has stationed a garrison
at Cumana and built a pair of forts to guard the harbor.
Curaçao
Curaçao
is the greatest free port in the Caribbean. Built onto the
southwest side of a low, sparsely vegetated island, Curaçao
overlooks a sheltered, deep harbor. Due to the prevailing
winds and the local weather, this little harbor is commonly
believed to be the best natural harbor in the Caribbean, Little
rain falls on Curaçao but crops will still grow, as
the soil is more fertile than nearby Aruba
and Bonaire
Settled
by the Spanish in 1527, Curaçao was captured by the
Dutch in a surprise attack following the Twelve Years Peace
in 1634. It was formally ceded in 1648 by the Treaty of Munster.
The Governor-General
of the Dutch West India Company reside here and is authorized
to issue Letters of Marque and Reprisal for ships of Spanish
flag.
Curaçao
is a center for smuggling activity and is home to the largest
black market in the New World. Anything can be bought or sold
here, from prisoners to parrots.
Ships
of all types and sizes can be found in the harbor and the
Governor-General owns a pair of 44-gun frigates to help keep
the peace between ships in the Harbor. Nearly one-third of
all buildings in the port are taverns and revelry lasts around
the clock.
Any good
can be sold in Curaçao at about three-quarters of it's
average price, regardless of the supply or demand. Any object,
of any quality, can be purchased in Curaçao but the
price is the issue.
Eleuthera
(Bahamas)
Eleuthera
is a very large cay (low coral island with no rivers and little
fresh water). Covered with a thick layer of green vegetation,
Eleuthera has to date been very difficult to colonize. Seabirds
and reptiles compose the bulk of the inhabitants.
Eleuthera
is claimed by the English, but was not colonized officially
until the 1690s. Pirates and privateers, however, have already
found a use for the many sheltered coves on the coast. Small
huts (most are uninhabited) can be found along many coves
and hermits abound on the interior. The few permanent inhabitants
serve the pirates at their small anchorages. These tiny communities
can become boom-towns during the late summer as pirates gather
to ambush the flota (Spanish treasure fleet) as it
sails through the Florida straits.
Gran
Granada
One of
a number of small towns on the north coast of Panama
in New
Granada. Panama and the surrounding
villages were founded inn 1519 and 1520 by the Spanish. Gran
Granada boasts little in the way of luxury and has a sizable
population of local Aztec and Olmec tribesmen.
Gran
Granada is typical of any number of fishing towns and small
ports in New
Spain or New
Granada.
Grand
Bahama
Like
Eleuthera, Grand Bahama
is a large cay. Grand Bahama has a covering of low vegetation
and is surrounded by deep coral reefs and shallows, making
ideal for shallow-draft sailing ships like the barque.
Grand
Bahama has little in the way of animals on it but the surrounding
waters have the best fisheries inn the Bahamas.
Grand
Bahama was the first of the Bahama islands settled officially
but when the English arrived in 1648, there was already a
thriving community of Pirates there numbering in the l00s.
The colony is struggling but morale is high due to the benevolent
environment.
The Bahamas
were abandoned in the last years of the 17th Centuury
due to the Spanish War of succession and most of the inhabitants
fled south to Nevis or
Antigua.
Grenada
Mount
Saint Catherine dominates the skyline of volcanic Grenada,
farthest south of the Windward Isles of the Lesser Antilles.
The peak is one of three which runs the length of the island
(21 miles north to south) and stands at 2,757 feet. Rich green
forests and verdant shrubbery covers the slopes of the mountains.
All shores but the westernmost are rife with shallow coves
guarded by treacherous reefs.
Grenada
was settled by the French Governor of Martinique in 1650 and
one of his lieutenants runs the island in his behalf. The
majority of the inhabitants are second generation colonists
and slaves, with slaves out-numbering settlers three to one.
Grenada's
population is divided amongst a number of plantations which
farm and grow spices (cloves). Fresh water bubbles from springs
in the mountainsides and the spices grown here are much sought
after in New
Spain and Curaçao.
Guadeloupe
Separated
by the Riviere-Salee, the islands of Grande-Terre (in the
northeast) and Basse-Terre (in the southwest) compose the
colony of Guadeloupe. Basse-Terre is topped by eight peaks
with the second to southernmost, the volcano Soufriere, being
the tallest. Grande-Terre is characterized by low hills which
hide it behind Basse-Terre and like many of the less mountainous
windward isles, the eastern half is a great salt-water bog.
South
of Basse-Terre rest the rocky Isles des les Saintes, which
make navigating the southern coast of Basse-Terre a difficult
prospect for deep-draft ships.
Settled
by French patriots and Catholics in 1635, Guadeloupe is most
like France of all her colonies in the Caribbean. This includes
the religious makeup of the population with a Catholic majority
which makes Huguenots and other Protestants unwelcome. The
capitol is the town of Basse-Terre on the southwest coast
of the island of the same name. Several other towns and villages
dot the shoreline of both islands with Pointe-A-Pitre being
the largest settlement on Grande-Terre.
The interior
mountainous region of Basse-Terre is home to several tribes
of Caribe. These tribes are extremely hostile to non-natives
and constantly raid the French settlements.
The Cardinal
of Paris commissioned a Cathedral in Basse-Terre (the commissioning
was in 1641 by the infamous Armand-Jean du Plessis, Cardinal
Richlieu) which is nearly completed. The cathedral is one
of the highlights of the city and is a landmark in the Windward
Isles.
Basse-Terre
is home to a large, well-armed, and veteran French garrison
as well as several ships of the line (48 gun and 36 gun frigates
as well as a score of Brigantines). The garrison at Basse-Terre
is strong enough for the Governor to be able to invade almost
any small island (save Curaçao)
and to repel nearly any raid by pirates. Any raiders will
be pursued and probably caught (Brigs are known for being
agile and fast).
The Governor
of Guadeloupe is empowered to grant letters of Marque and
Reprisal against the Spanish, as well as Letters for most
ships of less common nationality. Although Swedish ships are
rarely seen, the Governor is loyal to his King and will pay
reward for any looted or sunk.
Basse-Terre
has a strong economy and is largely self-sufficient.
Hispaniola
The second
largest island in the Caribbean, Hispaniola is home to several
important colonies and a dozen major settlements. This island
was first settled by Bartholomew Columnbus (Christopher' s
brother) at Santo Domingo in 1496. Other settlements were
founded by the Spanish at Isabella, La Vega, and Puerto de
Plata.
French
Huguenot settlers fleeing religious persecution came to Hispaniola
in the early 1600s and built colonies at Point-de-Paix, Port-au-Prince,
and Petit Goave. In 1697, the eastern third of the island
was formally ceded to France by Spain.
The island
has a very large population of Arawak tribes-men who are periodically
hunted by the Spanish and who stage raids on the Spanish settlements
regularly. The Arawaks understand the difference between the
French and Spanish and conduct some peaceful trade with the
French Huguenots.
Isabella
A small
town of slowly diminishing influence and power on the north
coast of the island, Isabella is named for the queen of Spain.
Isabella has a sizable population of poor Spaniards, but is
mostly forgotten by the Captaincy-General at Havana
(which oversees the government of Hispaniola). Isabella hosts
a frightening number of pirate raids each year and rarely
has anything other than food to steal.
Santo
Domingo
The titular
capitol of Spanish Hispaniola, Santo Domingo is the only major
port on the southern coast. Spanish vessels regularly trade
between Santo Domingo and nearby San Juan, making Santo Domingo
self-sufficient.
Santo
Domingo is the oldest settlement in the New World. The governor
of Santo Domingo rules Hispaniola in the name of the Captaincy-General
in Havana.
The averia
is in effect in Santo Domingo but is not at as high of a rate
as in other ports (those along the Spanish Main). Nobles,
however as always, are subject to corruption and bribery.
Puerto
De Plata
A prominent
port on the northern coast, Puerto de Plata is a vital link
to Florida, Havana, and San Juan.
La
Vega
La Vega
is a small settlement upriver on the Rio D'yuna. It is a haven
for smugglers and buccaneers but is difficult for large vessels
to reach. The Rio D'yuna empties into the Mona Passage between
Hispaniola and San Juan Island. La Vega serves as a clearing
house for illegal and stolen goods.
Spanish
law and the Inquisition have not made any presence here and
the place is remarkably lawless for a Spanish town.
Port-De-Paix
The largest
and most important French settlement in Hispaniola is Port-de-Paix
(Port of Peace). It lies on the north coast, within sight
of the pirate haven of Tortuga. The
majority of the population is French Huguenot, although slaves
for agriculture are being imported in astonishing numbers.
The Huguenots
enjoy an odd kind of protection from the Spanish, they are
protected by the pirates and the Arawak Indians. In exchange
for food, the pirate lords of Tortuga keep the waterway clear
of Spanish ships (even the merchants!). The pirates are tolerated
here, unlike the rest of French Hispaniola. Recreational drinking,
however, is frowned upon.
Port-de-Paix
is one of the most 'civilized' towns in Hispaniola having
a strong rule of law and a structured society. Protestant
ministers and elders, along with their followers, hold all
political power in French Hispaniola.
Petit
Goave
Located
on the south coast, Petit Goave is the largest of the Huguenot
settlements. The town is in the process of driving the local
buccaneers inland and east, making the town more 'civilized.'
Pirates are not tolerated and crewmen who do not look presentable
and dignified will not be given any kind of notice or service.
Rowdy
and violent behavior will be punished severely, with sentences
of floggings and weeks in the stocks being common.
Port-Au-Prince
Located
on the Bay de St. Marc, Port-au-Prince is a small farming
and fishing community . The population is almost entirely
Huguenot and the town has an attitude of intolerance towards
Pirates and sailors in general .
The rules
and operation of the town are very similar to Petit Goave.
Rowdy
and violent behavior will be punished severely, with sentences
of floggings and weeks in the stocks being common.
New
Providence Island (Nassau)
An Island
of some 60 square miles, 200 miles east of Florida. The chief
city (called Nassau from 1695) is the capitol of the Bahamas.
British pirates careened their ships and obtained supplies
at the Bahamas from the 1670's. In 1716 Nassauu became the
most important Pirate Haven in the Americas.
Located
near major trade routes, New Providence offered fresh water,
wood, Fruit, and meat from wild hogs and cattle. Nassau's
harbour could take 500 small vessels but was too shallow for
naval battleships. Hog Island divided it into two inlets,
so at least two warships were needed for an effective blockade.
Although
British settlers arrived in the 1640's, plantations never
prospered on the small islands. Until 1717, the Bahamas were
privately owned. The absentee landlords ignored their island
possessions and sent ineffective governors who accepted pirate
bribes.
Buccaneers
moved to Nassau in the 1680's as Jamaican authorities cracked
down on piracy. After Thomas Pain raided Florida, two Spanish
expeditions sacked Nassau in 1684, but British pirates returned
in 1686. Others moved in from French Tortuga when France and
Britain were at war in 1689.
These
Nassau pirates operated on a small scale. Despite the island's
natural riches and tolerant government, most raiders preferred
ports in British North America. From 1680, pirates left the
over-plundered Caribbean to raid in the Pacific or the Indian
Ocean. To get a better price, they fenced their exotic booty
at major American ports, many of which condoned piracy. The
governors of New York and Boston sold fake privateering commisions,
and prominent merchants openly brought pirate booty. Only
Henry Every sold his loot at the Bahamas (in 1696) because
he did not trust mainland officials.
Spanish
expeditions raided New Providence in 1703, 1704 and 1706 during
the War of the Spanish Succession. There was no governor after
1704, and the few remaining inhabitants appreciated the money
the pirates brought in. When the war ended in 1714, hundreds
offormer privateers marauder. Because mainland colonieshad
turned honest, they operated from Nassau.
Henry
Jennings settled at New Providence in about 1716. By 1717,
500 or 600 pirates sailed from Nassau. Dozens of captains
ravaged shipping in the West Indies and along the American
coast from Florida to Maine. Nassau became the centre of piracy
in the Caribbean.
Nevis
And St. Kitts
Nevis
and St. Kitts lie in the upper portion of the Lesser Antilles
along the southern side. The two islands are within two miles
of each other and have very similar economies.
St. Kitts,
also known as St. Christopher, is a long, oval shaped island
with several volcanic peaks rising from its base. The tallest
is Mt. Misery, standing over 3,200 feet above sea level. St.
Kitts is covered with fresh and saltwater lakes and plantations
can be seen from the sea to the south.
Nevis
is circular, formed by the 3,200 foot Nevis Peak rising from
the Caribbean. The sides of the mountain are covered with
a lush vegetation that is regularly broken by sugar plantations.
Nevis
was founded by the British in 1628 and St. Kitts by the French
in 1627. St. Kitts was, in 1664, controlled by the English
but boasted a French majority. In late 1665, St. Kitts was
invaded by the French, who also blockaded Nevis for six months.
The French blockade was to keep the English from using it
as a base to retake St. Kitts. Eventually, the English retook
it, but the attack came from nearby Antigua
The populations
of both islands are dominated by a large African slave population.
American
patriot Alexander Hamilton will be born on Nevis in 1757 and
Lord Horatio Nelson will marry his wife here in 1787. Nevis
is rife with the relatives of English nobility and the entire
colony has an air of dignity about it.
Panama
The central
and prominent region of the Spanish colony of New
Granada, Panama is home to three major settlements: Nombre
de Dios, Puerto Bello, and Panama. Panama is ruled by the
Viceroy of New Granada.
The jungles
and fens of Panama are home to the insidious mosquito which
brings malaria. Hundreds die each year of the disease. Any
white man traveling through the Isthmus of Panama has a chance
of contracting Malaria.
Panama
On the
southern coast of the isthmus of Panama lies the city of the
same name. Panama overlooks the Pacific Ocean and was founded
in 1519 by Pedro Arias Davila. It is a port for Spanish treasure
ships sailing from Peru and Chile to the Caribbean. Ships
are off loaded at Panama and the cargo is carried 50 miles
overland to Nombre de Dios, a seven day journey on foot, through
jungle.
In 1671,
Welsh Privateer Henry Morgan, under orders from Jamaican Governor
Thomas Modyford, sacked and destroyed Panama with a force
of 2,000 men and 36 ships. Morgan was made a Lieutenant Governor
of Jamaica for this and other actions in the name of England,
although he was later shipped home and arrested.
Panama
suffers under the avaria and all goods are heavily taxed.
Smuggling into Panama is a difficult task at best due to The
overland journey.
Nombre
De Dios
Formerly
the preeminent port on the north coast of Panama, Nombre de
Dios was mercilessly plundered repeatedly and a new port was
built nearby in Puerto Bello.
Puerto
Bello
An exit
point for treasure heading towards Cartagena, Puerto Bello
is a moderately sheltered and well fortified port on the north
coast of Panama. Puerto Bello was once frequently attacked
by pirates and has since been fortified by a garrison.
The avaria
is effect here and smuggling is possible.
Port-Royal
Arguably
the largest English city in the New World, Port-Royal sits
on a narrow spit of land jutting westward from the southeast
corner of Jamaica. Port-Royal sits in a rather desolate part
of the Jamaican coast but the Location is singularly defensible.
The harbor is deep and defensible with good winds and shelter
from the weather.
The island
of Jamaica is roughly rectangular with mountains along the
coast rising to a plateau rich in limestone and bauxite. The
central mountain region of the plateau is thickly forested
and home to a large population of escaped slaves and surviving
natives.
The island
of Jamaica was settled in 1509 by Juan de Esquivel. The Spanish
held it for more than a century until 1655 when an English
squadron landed in what is now Kingston. The small army sacked
and burned the Spanish settlements, conquering the island.
Spain has never retaken the island.
The soldiers
set up the city of Port-Royal and the colony begins the cultivation
of sugarcane. This income is soon augmented by a growing level
of privateering based in Port-Royal.
By the
1660s, Port-Royal is the greatest pirate haven in the Caribbean
and her governor, Thomas Modyford hands out Letters of Marque
and Reprisal to any man with a boat who can keep an oath not
to attack English ships. Port-Royal becomes known as the 'wickedest
town on Earth.'
The population
of Port-Royal numbers about 7,500 permanent residents with
nearly 5,000 men in the garrison. From 2,000 to 5,000 sailors
roam the streets and alleyways each night adding even more
to the population.
On June
7, 1692, a large part of Port-Royal is forcibly removed from
the Earth by a devastating earthquake which slumps most of
the town into the sea. Thousands are killed and Port-Royal
is never fully rebuilt. Huguenots claim that the earthquake
is the work of God. The British throne, being ever so much
more prudent, does very little to help in rebuilding and instead
turns its attention to it's number two colony: Massachusetts.
The city has been rebuilt by the beginning of the early 18th
century and has become more respectable, becoming one of the
main bases against Piracy, although many pirates still frequent
the dockside inns, taverns and brothels.
Anything
can be sold in Port-Royal. The only factor is the price. Any
goods may be bought in Port-Royal at base price.
Crews
can be recruited in Port-Royal, but be warned: the scum of
Port-Royal are some of the worst on Earth.
Saint
Thomas
Mountainous
and sparsely covered in forest, St. Thomas has several low
peaks which dominate its silhouette. St. Thomas Harbor is
a well-sheltered deep water harbor, peeking out between St.
Thomas proper and the smaller, uninhabited Hassel Island.
The island is semi-arid and the vegetation is sparse besides
trees.
St. Thomas
was settled by the Dutch in 1657 and soon became home to several
bands of English pirates. The island's population is mainly
Danish (with Dutch and Portuguese Jews .living there as well)
and in 1672 the Danish India Company purchased the island.
In 1674 the King of Denmark purchased the island and named
the Port Charlotte Amalie, after his wife. Many nobles at
the time believed that he purchased the island for the express
purpose of naming the port as such.
Because
the Danish Navy did not operate as far south as the Caribbean
(and was embroiled in a bitter war against the Swedes), the
King empowered the Governor of the Danish West Indies (who
resided in Charlotte Amalie) to issue Letters of Marque at
his discretion.
The island
became a haven for pirates to rival Tortuga
and is home to a black market nearly as large as Curaçao.
St. Thomas
is the only whole colony in the Caribbean not controlled by
the French, English, Dutch, or Spanish. It was the extent
of the Danish colonial empire at the time of its founding.
St. Thomas is home to a very eclectic and moderately interesting
array of people. The nearest other port that is not controlled
by the 'big four' (France, Spain, Britain, or the Netherlands)
is the Portuguese colony at Buenos Aires, in Brazil.
Tortuga
A large
(about 85 square miles) and rocky Island, separated by a narrow
channel from the northwestern coast of Hispaniola.
The island's name (Île de la Tortue, "Turtle Island")
refers to its shape. Viewed from Hispaniola,
it resembles a monster sea turtle floating upon the waves.
Tortuga
initially served as a haven for cattle huntes on Hispaniola.
The Spanish government, based at Santo Domingo, had abandoned
western Hispaniola in 1605, but the colonial militia continued
to attack the hunters. Mountainous and inaccesible to the
north, and with only one harbour on the south, Tortuga offered
safe refuge. By the 1620's, cattle hunters had a rough place
of settlement near the harbour, where they sold hides to visiting
merchants.
Sea rovers
passing through from Europe found Tortuga
a convenient harbour. The island provides good access around
northern Hispaniola to the coast of Central America. To the
south, Cuba and Mexico are easily reached through the Windard
Passage, although the return journey against the wind is difficult.
The Tortuga huntsmen soon began to
supplement their income by piracy. By the late 1620's, Dutch
fleets had weakened Spanish naval power, encouraging freelance
marauders. To end raids from Tortuga,
troops from Santo Domingo invaded the island in late 1630.
But the islanders simply fled to the hills, returning as soon
as the Spanish ships had left.
From
1631 to 1635, Tortuga was protected by the Providence Company,
which already had a base on (Old) Providence Island, off the
Honduran coast. Anthony Hilton, a former ship captain persuaded
the Company to adopt Tortuga and was
appointed governor. Hilton, a most persuasive rogue, had quarreled
with the Barbados government and founded
a colony on Nevis in 1628. He was chased away by the Spanish
the following year, leaving behind large debts in Nevis
and Saint Kitts.
The agreement
with the Company was a rue to protect Hilton's bucanner associates.
Hilton (who died in 1634) never paid the Company for the cannon
and ammunition it supplied. The Puritain minister sent by
the Company fled after two years to escape his unruly flock!
Guided
by an Irish sailor who had quarreled with Hilton, a force
from Santo Domingo sacked the Tortuga settlement in 1635.
Spanish ships attacked again in 1635 and killed any of the
inhabitants they could find. Soon after, a Captain Roger Flood
arrived with 300 settlers from Nevis.
The Frenchmen still living on Tortuga claimed Flood abused
them, forcing them to flee to Hispaniola.
The French
inhabitants requested aid from Philippe de Poincy, the French
governor-general. To solve his own political problems, de
Poincy appointed Jean Le Vasseur governor in 1642. Le Vasseur,
a skilled engineer, built an impregnible fortress near the
harbour and cut all ties with France. During the next 12 years
the Island became the capitol of Caribbean Piracy.
Le Vasseur
was killed by two of his henchmen in 1652, but the new governor
sent by de Poincy also welcomed buccaneers. In January 1654,
Spanish troops again drove the pirates out and this time tried
to found a permanent colony. However, when an English fleet
invaded in 1655, the Spanish governor withdrew its troops
to defend Santo Domingo.
In 1656,
soon after the English occupied Jamaica, Elias Watts acquired
a commission as governor and recruited English and French
settlers. The islanders soon returned to piracy. Watts was
expelled in 1659 by a French adventurer and Tortuga fell under
French control in 1665 when Bertrand D'Ogeron became governor.
D'Ogeron
encouraged French settlement along the northern and western
coast of Hispaniola, creating the
French colony of Saint Domingue. He also imposed order on
Tortuga, but never tried to suppress the pirates, who formed
the French colony's best defence in wartime. Pirates continued
to visit the Island until France outlawed piracy after 1713.
From the 1670's, however, Petit Groave replaced Tortuga as
the main pirate haven in the French Islands.
New
Spain, New Granada New Andalusia, And The Spanish Colonies
Although
many of the main Spanish cities are outlined above, it is
important to stress the importance and influence of the Spanish
in the region at this time. Spain controls roughly 90% of
the colonized land area of the New World at this time.
Spain
is also closely allied to the Vatican and the Catholic Church
and more of Spain's influence is spread by Catholic Missions
in the New World. Missions extend even into modern Texas (San
Antonio has already been founded by 1665).
New
Spain is the largest and arguably the most important
of the Spanish colonies in the region. Spain's colonial capitol
is located here and New Spain encompasses all of modern Mexico,
Arizona, New Mexico, southwest Texas, and southern California.
The capitol of New Spain was then and is still the largest
city in the world, Mexico. Mexico (now Mexico City) was located
in the old Aztec capitol of Tenochititlan. The Aztecs were
a very advanced and largely cosmopolitan people who were in
contact with many of their neighbors. The Aztecs were largely
unaffected by the diseases that the Spanish brought but were
nonetheless conquered by the Spanish (under Cortes) with the
aid of their local political rivals.
Mexico
is built into a mountain pass and is very defensible as well
as having a large arable valley about it. Mexico's exact population
was not recorded until the 18th century, but when Cortes returned
to Spain in 1527, he stated that the official population (that
of colonists, soldiers, and native converts to Christianity)
was 23,000! This is more than three times the population of
any other colony until nearly 1700. Moreover, the Audencia
(a court of appeals which acts to oversee the captains-general
in the name of the Crown of Spain) estimated that this was
only a small fraction of the actual usable population (which
may have been as much as 500,000 by 1650).
New
Granada
is the
region covering modern central America, Peru, Chile, and Colombia.
The Capitol of New Granada is in Panama and other important
and notable cities are Lima (built near an Inca city of some
prominence) and Cartagenana. New
Granada is the center of Spain's quest for native gold and
silver and is the home of many very important nobles and clergymen.
New Granada
has seen a much more violent breed of Spanish adventurer and
the natives are less inclined to bend as the Spanish push
south and east. The natives of the Amazon basin are notoriously
dangerous and the environment is unhealthy for Europeans.
The Spaniards have therefore stopped expanding New Granada
and are now interested in mining for gold and stealing the
gold of the natives. Gold is brought to Lima, where it is
shipped to Panama. From Panama,
it is portaged overland to Nombre de Dios and Puerto Bello.
From Puerto Bello, treasure makes one final trip to Cartagena
where it is stored until it is ready to be shipped to Spain.
New
Andalusia
includes
modern Venezuela and Guyana. Spanish nobles have made several
bona-fide attempts at peaceful colonization here and many
of the cities, such as Cumana and Caracas
are thriving, self-sufficient ports. New Andalusia is not
as important in the eyes of the Spanish Royal Court but a
growing group of humanists in the church view it as a 'noble
experiment.'
All of
New Spain, New Andalusia, and New Granada are under the oppressive
yoke of the avaria, a Crown-enforced tax upon exported goods.
The avaria goes towards paying for armed escorts on large
shipments to and from Spain. This practice is in direct response
to English and Dutch backed privateers operating in the Florida
channel, preying upon Spanish convoys.
The
copyright belongs exclusively to the copyright owners.
|
