Encounters with pirates…
Chapter 12. The Atlantic Coast and its Caribbean pirates
Borda Gardens, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
“For a long time, these bandits were happy with just attacking the frigates that, loaded with riches, sailed the seas between Granada and Cartagena, a Spaniard stronghold to the south, in Colombian waters. Unfortunately, as time went by, these sea-prowlers became both greedier and bolder. That’s when this Jamaican, by the name of Davies, appeared on the scene. Also, a native from the Caribbean waters by the name of The Gallardo; but he was called Gallardillo (Little Gallardo), because of his height. Anyway, that pair sailed all the way from the Atlantic to this very spot.”
“They sailed a warship. Following the coast until it reached the San Juan River, the pirates veered inland, to the west. At last, reaching the junction of the river with the Nicaragua Lake, it was merely a quick sail to cross it and arrive in Granada. Since this had never happened before, at dawn the buccaneers completely surprised the sleeping city. Taking full advantage of the confusion, the corsairs proceeded to rob and plunder whatever was at hand, and retreated before the city could pull itself together and react to defend itself.”
“In the aftermath of the raid, the residents of Granada decided to fortify the access from the coast to the city. That’s why the San Carlos fort was built, precisely where the San Juan River meets the Nicaragua Lake. The idea, evidently, was to hold back any aggressors, before they could gain an entrance to the lake. The people of Granada also built another fort called Castle of the Immaculate. This one was erected on the river, around two-thirds of the way from the coast to the lake.”
In the land of volcanoes’ Chapters Purchase the book