A salute from the Viceroy's ship was answered with a shotted broadside, and, in the confusion that ensued, the Portuguese ship was boarded and carried almost without resistance.

Seldom or never had such a prize fallen into pirate hands so easily.

The booty in diamonds and money was in the shape most coveted by the rovers.

The jewels alone were estimated at over three million dollars.

The hard cash was said to be five hundred thousand crowns, and the Viceroy was forced to raise another two thousand crowns as a personal ransom, which would have been higher, had he not convinced them that part of the jewels and money on board was his own property.
Bourbon was a French possession, but the Governor, M.Desforges, was obliged to observe _une grande circonspection_ in his dealings with the pirates who came and went as they pleased.