la Plata, in 12 deg. and a half north latitude. Here lies a
rich bank of pearl, to the fishery whereof they yearly sent from
Carthagena twelve vessels with a man-of-war for their defence. Every
vessel has at least two negroes in it, who are very dextrous in diving
to the depth of six fathoms, where they find good store of pearls. On
this fleet, called the pearl-fleet, Pierre Francois resolved to venture,
rather than go home empty; they then rid at anchor at the mouth of the
River de la Hacha, the man-of-war scarce half a league distant from the
small ships, and the wind very calm. Having spied them in this posture,
he presently pulled down his sails, and rowed along the coast feigning
to be a Spanish vessel coming from Maracaibo; but no sooner was he come
to the pearl-bank, when suddenly he assaulted the vice-admiral of eight
guns and sixty men, commanding them to surrender. The Spaniards made a
good defence for some time, but at last were forced to submit.

Having thus taken the vice-admiral, he resolved to attempt the
man-of-war, with which addition he hoped to master the rest of the
fleet: to this end he presently sunk his own boat, putting forth the
Spanish colours, and weighed anchor with a little wind which then began
to stir, having with threats and promises compelled most of the
Spaniards to assist him: but so soon as the man-of-war perceived one of
his fleet to sail, he did so too, fearing lest the mariners designed to
run away with the riches they had on board. The pirate on this
immediately gave over the enterprise, thinking themselves unable to
encounter force to force: hereupon they endeavoured to get out of the
river and gain the open seas, by making as much sail as they could;
which the man-of-war perceiving, he presently gave them chase, but the
pirates having laid on too much sail, and a gust of wind suddenly
rising, their main-mast was brought by the board, which disabled them
from escaping.

This unhappy event much encouraged those in the man-of-war, they gaining
upon the pirates every moment, and at last overtook them; but finding
they had twenty-two sound men, the rest being either killed or wounded,
resolved to defend themselves as long as possible; this they performed
very courageously for some time, till they were forced by the
man-of-war, on condition that they should not be used as slaves to carry
stones, or be employed in other labours for three or four years, as they
served their negroes, bu