'One That's More Torrid': The Pirates of Madagascar

Tew Part ii Sloops to be built

Piracy was generally conceptualized as a parasitic trade, by its very nature. However, in the fictional tale of Misson (and this connected, semi-fictionalized life of the real pirate, Tew), there is an enormous break with traditional practice. Misson and Tew are suddenly creating a new paradigm: (a) they have a land base, with a population that includes women and land to settle, and (b) Misson orders sloops to be built out of one of the captured vessels. A lack of shipbuilding facilities always confined the practice of piracy; here, the settlement has stable land that allows them minor shipyards. They may here just be cannibalizing a prize, but the implication is of increasing power and stability.

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