Each player starts the turn randomly ~and has to organise his ship and Landing parties, a delicate balancing act is required. To further complicate matters there is always the danger of intervention from other
European shipping, either as simple merchant vessels or even men-of-war.
The origins of the name "Jolly Roger" are unclear. It is thought it derives from "joli rouge" as French sailors had flown a red flag. Another variation comes from an Indian pirate called Ali Raja. He flew a red flag which English pirates called Alley Roger's flag. "Ally" could have changed to "Jolly".Two other explanations are to do with the nature of pirates. "Old Roger" was a popular name for the devil. Also "Roger" was an old English word meaning vagabond or rogue.
In 1681 the Santo Rosario was bearded by pirates and her cargo of 400 silver ingots taken. It was later dumped overboard as it had been mistaken for tin. Robert Louis Stevenson based his book Treasure Island on a story of real buried treasure. Stevenson kept the location secret because he himself was going to search for it - at LA Plata, oh the coast ofEcuador. Stevenson never found it, but someone else did. The treasure, had been dropped by Sir Francis Drake into shallow water during a voyage in 1578, it was discovered in 1930.
In 1835, Captain Chad, helped capture pirates by disguising his ship as a floating zoo. They lined the decks with monkeys, bears and lions, which so caught the pirates' attention, they failed to notice the 28 guns that were shortly fired at them,.
Woodes Rogers started his career as a pirate, but was made Governor of the Bahamas and told to convert pirates to Christianity and to reform. He arrived at Nassau, in New Providence in 1718. Word of his appointment had reached pirate ears before he arrived, along with news of the royal
pardons that would be given to pirates who reformed. The pirates formed a guard of honour when he stepped down from his ship.