BUCCANEERS, an appellation originally ._.iven to the French settlers in the islands of St Domingo and Tortuga, who subsisted by hunting ; but afterwards more generally applied to those daring adventurers, who, towards the close of the seventeenth century, in fested the West Indian and American coasts.
The splendid advantages which the Spaniards had derived from their trans-atlantic possessions, had long inflamed the cupidity, and awakened the enterprize, of the other maritime powers of Europe. The English, the French, and the Dutch, had sent out various expedi tions, with the view of sharing in the same golden har vest, and had succeeded, if not in exploring new re gions abounding in the precious metals, like Mexico and Peru, at least in forming establishments in some of the finest portions of the western hemisphere ; where the fertile soil, profusely rewarding, without superseding the labour of culture, was likely to prove, in the end, more valuable than exhaustless mines. The Spaniards, naturally jealous of these intruders, were determined, as far as their arms or influence could extend, to oppose all other nations in their attempts to plant colonies in the New World, which they seemed willing to claim, on the right of discovery, as exclusively their own. But their power was too feeble to crush the spirit of enterprise which their example had roused. Successive hordes of adventurers, migrating from the various nations of Eu rope, were perpetually encroaching upon their domi nions, both on the continent and in the islands of Ame rica ; and while they were thus kept in constant war tare in defence of their territories, the seas were cover ed with pirates, eager to seize the galleons which wafted to the parent country the treasures of New Spain.
A colony of French, which had been established in St Christopher's island, was advancing rapidly in prosperi ty, when its progress was interrupted by repeated de scents of the Spaniards upon the shores. The assail ants succeeded so far as to compel the greater part of the colonists to abandon the island. Burning with re venge, they immediately joined the Dutch eruizers, who then annoyed the Spanish trade, and their resentment was soon gratified by the capture of several prizes of great value. Their success being reported in France,
encouraged several merchants of Dieppe to fit out pri vateers to join their countrymen in that lucrative game. Prosperous in all their enterprises, they now found the Wood of St Christopher too distant as a depot for their spoils, and resolved to go in quest of some more COUNT !lien( asylum, to which they might retire in security, as exigencies r«iircd. \Vith this view they at first re sorte d to Hispaniola, w hose numerous herds of wild cattle and other animals, afforded an unfailing supply of ovisions lo• their ships, while its situation seemed to render it a convenient and a sale retreat. The Spa niards, aware of the advantages which it offered to the p.rates, had already taken possession of the island, and had stationed there an officer named Alferez, with a company of twenty five men. These, however, the ad venturers easily expelled, and having rendered them selves masters of the island, began next to deliberate in hat manner they might occupy it with most security and advantage. The neighbouring island of Tortuga, though considerably smaller, was in many respects even more inviting than Hispaniola ; and it was resolved, by mutual consent, that while some remained on the larger island to he employed in hunting, for the use of their comrades, the animals with which it abounded, others should devote themselves to the culture of the-soil in both islands ; while the rest should continue to scour the seas, and should be supplied by those who remained at home with victuals, and every necessary provision ; and all, in case of any imminent danger, were to unite in the common defence. The new settlers were not left long unmolested by their inveterate and jealous ene mies; Tortuga fell several times alternately into the hands of the Spaniards and the French, till at length the former were finally expelled. Though a considerable portion of Hispaniola was inhabited by Spanialds, the adventurers not only retained possession of the spot where they first landed, but even penetrated far into the country. Some of them engaged in agriculture, but most of them devoted themselves to the chase. It was the latter class alone, that were properly denominated Buccaneers.