Move over, Johnny Depp !

Now, some real "Pirates of the Caribbean !"

"The Memoirs of Pere Labat, 1693 - 1705"

Adapted from: "Cass Library of West Indian Studies No. 8, The Memoirs of Pere Labat, 1693 - 1705."

Page 147 located in the chapter titled "Voyage to San Domingo."

"The parish church was in a street on the left of the square.

"The altar was the ugliest, worst decorated, and dirtiest affair one could possibly see.

"I cannot help saying that I was much scandalized by th elittle respect shown by the people for their religion.

"They came to church laughing and chaffing each other as if they were about to see some show or entertainment.

"Especially was this the case with those on the outside of the church, who leant on the top of the [adjoining] fence and spoke to each other much louder than I preached, continually introducing the name of God in their conversation in a manner I could not tolerate.

"I warned them to stop talking three or four times as gently as I could, but as this did no good, I was obliged to complain to some officers, who compelled them to keep silent.

"After Mass a good man told me that I must be more tolerant with the people on the coast if I intended to live with them."

Now, from the chapter titled "Captain Daniel: Pirate."

Pages 147-148.

"This pirate [Captain Daniel], finding himself short of food between the Saints and Dominica, dropped anchor at these islands [The Saints] during the night.

"Since it was peace - time no watch was kept on shore, so it was easy to for the pirates to land and seize the curé's house and other houses as well.

"The pirates then ocnducted the curé and the settlers they had captured on board their ship, and posted men to guard the hcurch and landing - place.

"They were kindness itself to their prisoners and explained that they only desired wine, brandy, chickens and other stores."

[THEN THE PIRATES ASKED FOR THE LATIN MASS, ALBEIT THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO OTHER, HEH, HEH!]

"After they had collected these items the pirates asked the curé to say Mass on their barque, and he was unable to refuse this request.

"They sent for the church ornaments, and put up an altar on the poop under an awning, and then chanted Mass lustily.

"A salvo of eight cannons marked the commencement of the service, they fired a second salvo at the Sanctus, a third at the Elevation, a fourth at the Benediction, and lastly a fifth after the Exaudiat, while the prayer for the King [of France] was followed by the most hearty Vive le Roi.

"Only one incident slightly marred this ceremony.

"One of the pirates adopted an offensive attitude during the Elevation, and on being rebuked by the [pirate] captain, he replied insolently with a horrible oath.

"Daniel promptly drew his pistol and shot him through the head and swore by God that he would do the same to anyone else who showed disrespect to the Sainte Sacrifice.

"The priest was quite startled, for this affair occurred close beside him, but Daniel said,

Do not rouble yourself, my father.

It is only a coquin who has been punished for disrespect and will not forget his duty.

"Quite an effective method, as one percieves, to prevent the poor fellow repeating his offence.

"When Mass was over, the body was thrown into the sea, and the pirates rewarded the priest for preaching on board their ship.

"They gave him several valuable presents, and as they learned that he had no slave to wait on him, they presented him with the negro that I had been asked to reclaim.

"I showed my authority to M. Auger, who ordered the Commandant of the Saints [Islands] to seize the negro and send him to Guadeloupe.

"The Carmelites told me that they would be very glad if I could arrange to purchase the slave form M. Vambel, and I was able to do so in a manner very satisfactory to them."

A real wowser of a first hand account !