1771: The governor of Santiago de Cuba reported that small, unguarded harbors in the Bayamo district were full of ships engaged in illicit trade.

1771: The governor of Santiago de Cuba reported that small, unguarded harbors in the Bayamo district were full of ships engaged in illicit trade. These vessels carried deserters from various armies, escaped convicts, and runaway slaves who worked together to transport hides and livestock. This outlaw society functioned as a multinational guild of fugitives that operated outside the reach of colonial law. By 1777, these heavily armed interlopers were resisting government troops and growing in total number. Such outlying communities provided a vital refuge for “troublemakers” pursued by justice across the Caribbean.