The History of the Caribbean

Tortuga lay off the northwest coast of hispaniola, on the opposite side of the island from the spanish capital of santo domingo. In 16 65, this independent little pirate colony on tortuga asked the french crown to appoint a royal governor to give their settlement official legitimacy. By 16 i, the community numbered some six thousand, with planter colonists now far outnumbering the old pirates. French indentured as were only bound for three years, whereupon they got a chunk of land for themselves. I think the island changed hands at least four times, but the pirates always wound up coming back. As the french took possession and started settling plantations, a pretty even mix