gradually tend in regular succession; the leaf is very thick and stiff and about eight inches long and nine wide, the interval between the roots offer secure hiding places for those who are suddenly pursued.  Another circumstance assists the pirate when pursued.—­As the islands belong to several different nations, when pursued from one island he can pass to that under the jurisdiction of another power.  And as permission must be got by those in pursuit of him, from the authorities of the island to land and take him, he thus gains time to secrete himself.  A tropical climate is suited to a roving life, and liquor as well as dissolute women being in great abundance, to gratify him during his hours of relaxation, makes this a congenial region for the lawless.

[Illustration:  A Piratical Vessel destroying a Merchant Ship.]

The crews of pirate vessels in these seas are chiefly composed of Spaniards, Portuguese, French, Mulattoes, Negroes, and a few natives of other countries.  The island of Cuba is the great nest of pirates at the present day, and at the Havana, piracy is as much tolerated as any other profession.  As the piracies committed in these seas, during a single year, have amounted to more than fifty, we shall give only a few accounts of the most interesting.

In November 1821, the brig Cobbessecontee, Captain Jackson, sailed from Havana, on the morning of the 8th for Boston, and on the evening of the same day, about four miles from the Moro, was brought to by a piratical sloop containing about 30 men.  A boat from her, with 10 men, came alongside, and soon after they got on board commenced plundering.  They took nearly all the clothing from the captain and mate—­all the cooking utensils and spare rigging—­unrove part of the running rigging—­cut the small cable—­broke the compasses—­cut the mast’s coats to pieces—­took from the captain his watch and four boxes cigars—­and from the cargo three bales cochineal and six boxes cigars.  They beat the mate unmercifully, and hung him up by the neck under the maintop.  They also beat the captain severely—­broke a large broad sword across his back, and ran a long knife through his thigh, so that he almost bled to death.  Captain Jackson saw the sloop at Regla the day before.

Captain Jackson informs us, and we have also been informed by other persons from the Havana, that this system of piracy is openly countenanced by some of the inhabitants of that place—­who say that it is a retaliation on the Americans for interfering against the Slave Trade.

About this time the ship Liverpool Packet, Ricker, of Portsmouth, N.H., was boarded off Cape St. Antonio, Cuba, by two piratical schooners; two barges containing thirty or forty men, robbed the vessel of every thing movable, even of her flags, rigging, and a boat which happened to be afloat, having a boy in it, which belonged to the ship.  They held a consultation whether they should murder the crew, as they had done