It is probably an obvious statement to say that the main force behind piracy has always been
                                      the search for wealth. Pirates were able to acquire amazing riches and goods through their
                                      campaigns. The most noted and often most prized were: gold and silver pieces, currency, jewelry,
                                      and precious stones. But the majority of pirate booty was acquired from looted merchant ships,
                                      and was simply made up of items such as: linens, cloths, food, anchors, rope, and sometimes medical
                                      supplies. The cargo even included rare articles such as spices, sugar, indigo, and quinine.

                                      The types of goods pillaged, depended on the type of ship encountered, therefore many
                                      pirates were very selective in the ship they attacked.  (They had to be certain that the booty was
                                      worth the risks of battle.)  It was equally important for the captain to choose the most
                                      rewarding area to monitor. One such area was the Spanish Main.

                                      Another concern was the actual method for dividing the booty acquired. The pirate code
                                      stated that any loot plundered had to be shared out equally. Some treasure was more easily
                                      divided among the crew than others. For example, certain coins, such as pieces of eight, were
                                      cut up into smaller change. Jewels, however, were not as easily divisible.

                                      The idea of buried treasure is mostly a mythical one, as it is romantically portrayed in books
                                      such as Treasure Island. One pirate, however, who may have started the myth, and was
                                      known for burying his treasure was Captain Kidd.  But even X though some pirates may have
                                      hid their plunder in this way, most pirates were extreme squanderers and rarely accumulated enough
                                      treasure to bury. Due to the danger and uncertainty of their profession, they were usually
                                      determined to live life for the present, and not save for the future.