CONFESSION OF A GREEK PIRATE. 303 dered the Mistico's boat to go alongside of the prize, and bring the people back. The boat went accordingly and returned again with two or more cases of rosolio, some sails and wearing apparel; also four or five pieces of calico, a bale of Maltese brown nankeens and some red handkerchiefs. The boat after discharging these articles returned again to the prize and brought a further quantity of them, compasses, sails, the ship's bell, plates, knives and forks, and other articles. The boat returned again to the prize and brought back part of the people who were on board; and her boat brought the remainder of the thirteen who took charge of her. When they returned Captain Panajotti asked them if they had prepared the brig for sinking. They replied all was well done, and that she would soon go down. Captain Panajotti then asked them what they had done with the crew of the brig who remained on board. Three of them, namely, Pano Previsiano, Costantino Calavritano, (both of them in custody) and the third, Scartato, replied, We put them to death at twelve o'clock to-day.' The captain asked if any of the Maltese had been killed by the pistols they heard fired. They answered no 6 304 CONFESSION OF A GREEK PIRATE. but two of them had been wounded, and the others concealed themselves under the deck. They said they had found on board seven of the crew, whom they had put to death with pistols and with knives. I cannot say if they made any resistance. Elia, nephew of Petro Bey, was wounded in the head. He said it was by a blow given him with a piece of wood by one of the Maltese. He said to me at the same time, that for that wound in his head my head should pay for it, because he had received it from a Maltese like me. Captain Panajotti then asked what had become of the murdered bodies. They answered they had taken the whole of them down into the store or steward's room. The captain then enquired if they had fastened down the hatchways. They replied, Yes, perfectly well.' About half an hour after this the prize went down. 6 "On the following morning the captain ordered all the clothes which were in the chests of the seamen of the Maltese brig to be divided. Half of the whole was set apart for the owners of the Mistico; and the other half distributed in proportions. They offered to me three shirts, two jackets, and some other CONFESSION OF A GREEK PIRATE. 305 things, but I refused to accept any of them, saying, 'My heart does not even wish to look at these clothes.' From the Maltese captain's chests there were taken some Spanish dollars: they amounted to seventeen hundred and seventy. This cash was not divided until after our arrival at Armiro. There were also twelve Greek capoti of a black colour, not new, which were distributed to those who first boarded the brig. Two of them are now in the possession of two of the prisoners in custody, namely, Pano Previsano and the boy Costantino. They have also each of them a sash, some shirts, and each a black cap common in Malta. The whole of the prisoners now in custody have each in their possession some of the clothes that were taken from the Maltese brig. On our arrival at Armiro, according to the order I had received, as I said before, from the British Vice Consul, when the chest of the Maltese captain was opened (it was the last one opened), I was very attentive to get hold of his papers; so perceiving a tin case, I took hold of it, and from it withdrew three papers, namely, the passport, the patent, and muster roll. I took possession of these papers, and concealed them 306 CONFESSION OF A GREEK PIRATE. under my sash. In the captain's chest there were found a gold repeater, two seals, and a gold watch-key; four gold rings with small diamonds; a shirt-pin with a small diamond, a small gold cross with topazes, and a gold cord. From the chests of the seamen there were taken three silver watches, in addition to their wearing apparel. Captain Panajotti ordered his son, in whose possession those articles were, to bring the money on deck to be divided, which was brought up accordingly. The captain then ordered the four thousand piastres for the expences of the Mistico to be first deducted! Upon this a dispute arose: some of the crew said they would not consent to it, and others would not consent that the four owners should take four shares of the half which was to belong to the crew. About these they had a long dispute. At last they agreed, that instead of four, the owners should only have two thousand piastres for the vessel's expences. The other two thousand were to remain on board for the expences of the next cruize. The four shares before mentioned were given up to the owners. The remainder of the money was distributed, as follows: forty-five dollars to each of the .CONFESSION OF A GREEK PIRATE. 307 thirteen who boarded the Maltese brig, and twenty dollars to all the others. I do not know what amount was taken by the captain and the other officers; because my mind was wholly bent upon saving the ship's papers and delivering them into the hands of the British Vice Consul Pasqualigo. The captain offered, and gave me, twenty-three dollars; telling me to take them for the present, and that the next voyage I should have much more. I refused to accept the twenty-three dollars; but the captain told me he would not allow me to go on shore if I did not take them, so I was compelled to take them. Some of the things were put up at auction. The captain purchased the gold repeater and the four rings. I do not know what he paid for them, as I was at the helm. He came to me and said, that as hé had purchased the gold watch and the rings, he did not like to appear to buy any more things, and requested that I would purchase for him the gold cross with topazes, as he wished to give it to his daughter. I accordingly complied with his request, and went and offered six dollars for it; when the captain said, "Well, it is for you;"when in fact I |