No one really can determine how or when this game started. There are stories that date back to Blackbeard and his like (1715) playing with the bones of their prey and a noose made of hemp on the decks of their sloops or in the pirate shantytown on land. Others will stake claim to it being created in their bar with the click of dice in the background. Regardless, generations have played this game drinking rum or any other swill available to pass the hours by after a long day of doing what you do best in the islands…. FISH. The best fishing in the world can be found in the Caribbean. Throughout the years, the Bahamas have given many fishing enthusiasts the best times of their lives. When the nighttime rolled around or the winds kicked up the games began.
Variations of the game derived from island to island. As the locals honed their skills more challenging competition was created. Creativity was at its' best and nothing was left to the imagination. The grand prize, a drink of rum of course.
The mainlanders, as they are called, enjoy the game just as well when they visit the islands. Come by air or sea, they can be seen playing this game, enjoying their rum on a night out at the local Tiki bar. So, join in on the fun and bring the islands to you. Pour yourself a rum, grab your favorite wench or pirate and let the games begin.
Pirate Folklore
While in the Bahamas, Edward Teach began his odyssey as the most feared pirate on the high seas.
In New Providence, Teach met Capt. Benjamin Hornigold whose crew he joined in 1716. In very little time, he became Hornigold's protégé', and soon was given a captured sloop with six cannons to command while still serving under Hornigold.
It was during the latter part of 1717 that Hornigold and Teach encountered a large ship off St. Vincent flying the French flag. Hornigold and Teach both fired from the bow of the their sloops across the French ship and killed many on board. The ship, known as the "Concord" surrendered. She was actually a Dutch built "Flute" that had come into possession of a St. Malo Frenchman. The boat was rich in Booty and with Hornigold's hold now filled with treasure, Teach asked if he could be given the command of the captured Ship. Hornigold knew he was reaching the end of his pirating days and with the wealth he had accumulated, he could retire. He agreed to give the ship to Teach and to retire to New Providence. It was the last time he would see the man he had trained so well to become the vicious pirate "Blackbeard".
Blackbeard gave his new ship the name "The Queen Anne's Revenge". He honed his piracy skills, selecting bigger and better Targets. But his greatest feat was yet to come. In May 1718, Blackbeard blockaded the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina. He stretched his vessels across the harbor and made demands of the town for money, supplies and medicine. The blockade wore on for weeks and with out firing a shot, Blackbeard meticulously received what he came for.
Blackbeard had successful exploits on the high seas and had collected a great deal of treasure, particularly from his bold Blockade in Charleston. He heard rumors of a naval effort being assembled to rid the sea-lanes of pirates once and for all. King George had offered to pardon pirates if they would stop on their own. He thought this was the best time to retire peacefully from pirating as his mentor Capt. Hornigold had done. He expressed interest in sailing to Bath, North Carolina and taking the pardon.
Blackbeard sailed his vessel until June of 1718 when he once again proved his treachery and devious nature as his plot unfolded in the Beaufort Inlet.
He sailed with fellow pirate, Stede Bonnett. Bonnett had become more of a nuisance than helper. He sailed his vessels into the Beaufort Inlet, known at that time as the Topsail Inlet. It was there that he intentionally ran his ship aground under the pretense of cleaning the hull. In reality, he was plotting yet another theft of booty, but this time it was from his own crew and then ally, Stede Bonnett. He had plotted with his favorite crew members to transfer the treasures to another ship and abandoned the "Queen Anne's Revenge"in the inlet to be taken by the tide. He and the remaining crew took the remaining ships up "Pamlico Sound" to the town of Bath. There he received a pardon from the Royal Governor and lived in Bath for a time, making friends with the locals and the wealthy planters.
The lure of piracy was too much for Edward Teach and he soon fell back into the lifestyle he was accustomed to and loved. He sailed the North Carolina and Virginia coast looking for ships to plunder. He had settled on Ockracoke Island, near Cape Hatteras, as his outpost. It was there that Lieutenant Maynard of the Royal Navy found Blackbeard anchored at his favorite spot on the south side of the island. A fierce battle broke out between them and both sides took heavy casualties. Eventually, Blackbeard was killed in the battle. His head was cut off and his body thrown overboard where legend has that it swam around the ship several times before sinking. The skull was displayed as a trophy on Maynard's arrival in Bath and in Virginia.
