The French authorities undertook to supply these erratic people with the goods and provisions which they needed, and built storehouses with everything necessary for carrying on the trade.
There were plenty of purchasers, for the buccaneers were willing to buy everything which could be brought from Europe.

They were fond of good wine, good groceries, good firearms, and ammunition, fine cutlasses, and very often good clothes, in which they could disport themselves when on shore.

But they had peculiar customs and manners, and although they were willing to buy as much as the French traders had to sell, they could not be prevailed upon to pay their bills.

A pirate is not the sort of a man who generally cares to pay his bills.

When he gets goods in any way, he wants them charged to him, and if that charge includes the features of robbery and murder, he will probably make no objection.