with low costs that permitted easy offloading in multiple ports and with a small population to the island prospered, and becoming the target of attacks by pirates and privateers during the 16th and 17th centuries. in addition to several sackings and general destruction of buildings, the local population were regularly captured. even under these circumstances, the island was able to continue to support a considerable population, which included original settlers tied to the nobility (specifically from the island of terceira).