Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The wreck of a 19th-century pirate ship believed to contain a hoard of sunken treasure may finally have been found off Tonga, according to officials in the South Pacific island nation.
The Port-au-Prince, a British privateer which had looted treasure from French and Spanish vessels, sailed into Tongan waters in 1806 in search of whales. However, it was seized by the local chief, Finau Ulukalala II, whose warriors massacred most of the crew and then scuttled it, so Tongan legend goes.
Although the chief salvaged cannons and iron – then of great value in Tonga – from the ship, the rest of the treasure was supposedly left intact. Sandra Fifita, a local tourism official, said the Port-au-Prince's hold was believed to contain "a considerable amount of copper, silver and gold".
Over the years, many adventurers have searched for the ship without success, but last month a Tongan diver, Tevita Moala, came across wreckage off the coast of Foa island, in the Ha'apai Island group. Britain's National Maritime Museum has dated the wreck at between 1780 and 1850. Ms Fifita said that local divers were still mapping the wreck for further study.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments