While at sea, they usually wore one outfit until the garments were no better than rags. Seamen favored fearnoughts (short jackets of heavy blue or gray cloth) or canvas coats (in foul weather), red or blue waistcoats, plain or checked shirts (often blue and white), and petticoat breeches (canvas trousers cut a few inches above one's ankles). These were often coated with tar to make them waterproof and to deflect sword thrusts. Shoes were worn on shore, but rarely aboard a ship. To protect themselves from the hot sun, they wore knotted scarves, tricorn hats, or various styles of caps. The Ilanun of Borneo, the most feared pirates in the waters around Southeast Asia during the mid 1800s, wore sarongs and embroidered belts.
(To be continued)
The copyright of the article Oh To Be A Pirate - Part 1 - Page 3 in Pirates and Privateers is owned by . Permission to republish Oh To Be A Pirate - Part 1 - Page 3 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
| Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: | View all related messages |
For a complete listing of article comments, questions, and other discussions related to Cindy Vallar's Pirates and Privateers topic, please visit the Discussions page.