Note 171 — Chapter XIX · Pirate Haunts and Cruising Grounds

“It was at the island of St. Thomas that the famous Captain Avery, or some of his companions, disposed of the greatest part of the rich goods taken in a ship belonging to the Mogul, about forty years ago, when the magazines on the Island were so excessively crowded with rich Indian goods that they were not entirely emptied in twenty years after, though they generally sold them at low prices; and it was by this accident that pieces of Arabian gold, which were properly speaking Pagodas, were long current in the West Indies under the name of Sequins, for they knew not what to call them, at the rate of about six shillings. And nutmegs, cloves, sinnimon and mace were likewise bought very cheap for many years after.”—John Harris, Collection of Voyages, London, 1739.