“TREASURE ISLAND”

Taranaki Daily News, 31 October 1935, Page 5

“TREASURE ISLAND”

SPECK IN CARIBBEAN SEA. BASE FOR FORAYS OF PIRATES... In the Caribbean Sea, a hundred miles south of Cuba, lies a counterpart in detail of Stevenson’s immortal island, writes i M. Bacon in the Daily MaiL This island is known aS Cayo Largo, or Long Key. It is uninhabited and is included in the group of keys and islets under Cuban ownership.

The name “key” is 6 iven to low, marshy, mangrove-covered islets fringing the larger islands of coral or volcanic origin. Cayo Largo, in spite of its name, has none of the characteristics of a key. Occasionally, a sponge or fishing boat stops for water from the spring that gushes up at the foot of the hills. The skull-shaped hollow shown on the pirates’ chart really exists and is still believed to hold treasure buried in the days of the Conquistadores. Pirates and freebooters of all nations made their headquarters on small, uncharted islands, such as Cayo Largo, asking only safe anchorage and fresh water. From these bases they set forth to seize the galleons returning to Europe laden with gold, or to raid the coast settlements of New .Spain. Returning from these expeditions, the pirates hid their booty in rock caches or buried it deep underground. Sometimes the treasure was divided, more often the robbers quarrelled over the shares as savagely as they had attacked their helpless victims. Soon they sailed off on another raid, perhaps never to return. Sometimes they were captured, or found their course blocked. by pursuers. Turning to a new haven, they were forced to leave the caches untouched.

It is more than likely that Cayo Largo, with its small bay and supply of fresh water, was one of these bases. An old map with bearings and directions in cipher is in the possession of a Cuban family, who guard it jealously, refusing to discuss it lest any details should be revealed. Where did Stevenson find his description? Perhaps some returned sailor told him of the lonely little island lying in the path of the old-time freebooters and. gentlemen of fortune. Treasure Island to-day lies silent and l deserted in the turquoise sea, brooding on the secrets of bygone years.