A
Pirate’s Life
Time:
late 1700’s and early 1800’s
Place:
South China Seas
By
Autumn Bardot
Who
Were They?
They were
desperately poor. On the lowest rung of the Qing Dynasty’s highly stratified
social system. They were without hope. Without a chance for advancement.
Without a chance to improve their lives or the lives of their children. Many sought
to escape tyranny, hunger, high taxes, forced labor, enslavement, or execution
for petty crimes.
The
way out.
They joined the
great pirate flag fleets! Signed a form and swore an oath. Worked their way up
the ranks, shared in the profits, were bankrolled for new businesses, and gained
valuable alliances. They stood in line at pirate recruitment centers and signed
up in droves. At its peak, hundreds of men a
day signed up to join the pirate fleets.
“Murdered
by pirates is good.” (grandson, Princess Bride)
Not every recruit
joined willingly. Pirates raided and commandeered fishing boats and merchant ships
all the time. If the crew surrendered, they were given a choice. And it was a
pretty horrible choice. The pirate chiefs asked them to swear allegiance (which
might involve killing their captain) or be hung upside down and whipped or cut
into a hundred pieces and thrown overboard.
What do you know?
They chose piracy!
Most of the men
and women captured began as slaves. But slaves with a chance to work their way
up! Young boys, ages 12 to 15, were greatly
prized. If the boy proved to be intelligent, obedient, and hard-working a
pirate boss would make him his personal servant. The slave boy would give the
pirate boss foot and back rubs and make tea. If the pirate boss was impressed,
he initiated the boy into the family by taking him as a temporary lover. This
insured loyalty and forged a permanent bond. The boy would be given increasingly
more difficult tasks. If he proved himself worthy, strong, and clever, the pirate
boss made him an adopted son. In this way, the pirates extended their
connections and vast network of relatives—adopted or by marriage—to form a
complex and far-reaching web of loyal familial relationships. Definitely one of
the reasons they attained so much power. Records show that many adopted sons
often went on to become pirate lords with their own squad or, in some cases,
given an entire fleet by their adopted father.
The
Fleet Bosses
Many of the fleet
bosses were educated and trained naval officers from the failed Tâyson
rebellion in Vietnam. Fearing execution, they fled their country and began the
business of piracy.
Foreign
Devils
Kidnapped
foreigners had a chance of staying alive if they had a skill. If they spoke
another language, could read and write, knew accounting or the healing arts they
were not mistreated.
Although the
negotiation process was long and tedious, captured American, British, and European
sailors were ransomed for vast sums of money and lots of supplies. The
kidnapped foreigners served another purpose as well. They taught their
abductors how to use their superior foreign weapons.
“I
can do anything you can do better.”
Men and women on
the ships worked equally hard. Women rowed sampans, threw fire baskets, and participated
in the raids. However, they could not become officers or captains. They were
second-class citizens with little say in their lives.
A
Pirate’s Life for Me
Life on a ship, no
matter how big that ship might be, was cramped. Although the captain and his
wife (or wives) had a nicely decorated, spacious cabin, the others lived in
tiny compartments under the cabin hold. About a four by four-foot square space.
Crew members
bathed in a compartment below deck filled with sea water. Captains and their
wives had first dibs whenever the water was replaced.
Captives, slaves,
and recruits slept outside on deck, even during storms. One of the most well-documented
captives, first mate J Turner of the Tay,
wrote in his journal that his sleeping space was four feet long by one and half
feet wide.
Mmmm,
Fatted Rat
Red rice, fish,
and silkworm were on the menu most days. A good raid added vegetables, pork,
and chicken to the menu. There were also plenty of fatted rats to eat.
When the crew was
finished with their tasks, they drank, smoked opium, played cards, gambled, and
sang bawdy songs.
Because of the
cramped quarters, there were lots of rules to keep the peace. Breaking a rule
could mean flogging or death. Women who committed adultery were chained and thrown
overboard. Prisoners or slaves who attempted to escape were tortured or killed.
This is just a
tiny snippet of life on a Chinese pirate junk. Intrigued by Chinese pirates and
how they came to be so powerful? Check
out DRAGON LADY.
The triumph of the
notorious Zheng Yi Sao is the fierce and unflinching adventure of how a
prostitute became the most powerful and successful pirate in the world.
Xianggu is sold
into slavery to work on a floating brothel, her virginity bought by the highest
bidder. Determined to rise above her poverty and lowly status, she learns the
business from the madam. But a violent midnight pirate raid destroys her
ambitions. Kidnapped by the powerful pirate boss, Xianggu embarks on a journey
that demands beauty, brains and brawn. She must do more than learn to wield a
sword, sail a ship, and swim across the bay if she hopes to survive. She must
prove her worth to the Red Flag fleet.
The winds never
blow in the same direction and tragedy forces Xianggu to make a risky decision
that changes not only her life but the lives of thousands of pirates.
Surrounded by jealous men, devious women, ancient prejudices, and the Qing
navy, Xianggu battles to save her empire, her family, and her own heart.
In
18th century China, when men made and enforced the rules, the
Dragon Lady lived by her own.
To celebrate the Chinese New Year this
January 25th Dragon Lady will be on
sale for $2.99 January 23 through 27!
January 25th Dragon Lady will be on
sale for $2.99 January 23 through 27!
Pick up your copy otday
Autumn Bardot
Autumn Bardot writes historical fiction and erotica about sassy women and daring passions!
Her erotic fiction includes Legends of Lust, Erotic Myths from around the World, published by Cleis Press. Confessions of a Sheba Queen (erotica) will be available Jan 2020.
The Impaler’s Wife is her debut historical fiction, released in April 2019.
Autumn has a BA in English literature and a MaEd in curriculum and instruction. She’s been teaching literary analysis for fourteen years
When Autumn’s not writing or working, you’ll find her hanging out with her ever-growing family, spoiled husband, and pampered rescue pooch. Her favorite things include salty French fries, coffee, swimming, and a great book.
No comments:
Post a Comment
See you on your next coffee break!
Take Care,
Mary Anne xxx