La Buse virtual treasure Hunt captures public interest |26 March 2006

The STB continue to receive calls about the event which was won by Mr. Teddy Esther who successfully completed the answers to the seven clues that were released, one per day, during SUBIOS week.

The clues drew their inspiration from the original treasure hunt started in 1730 when the notorious pirate, Olivier le Vasseur, known as La Buse, threw certain documents to the crowd at his hanging, challenging them to 'find my treasure he who can'.

This sparked a treasure hunt, which continues down to the present day, for a fabulous treasure whose worth is claimed to be as much as 150 million pounds sterling.

Treasure hunters in the virtual treasure hunt organized by the STB were competing for the prize of a magnificent diamond-studded cross worth almost $1000, sponsored by Kenwyn House, which tested their knowledge of historical events surrounding the original treasure, supposed to have been concealed somewhere at Bel Ombre, on Mahé.  Participants were asked to enter correct answers into a grid, published earlier in the Nation, where certain shaded letters then provided a master clue, Kenwyn House, and the location of the treasure at the children's playground.

Event organizers, encouraged by the level of public interest, plan to organize another, more elaborate treasure hunt, next year.

The clues to this year's virtual treasure hunt, and their correct answers are shown below.

Clue #1 - A pirate who is licensed by a country to steal treasure on its behalf? Corsair

Clue #2 - An historic map placing La Buse in Bel Ombre is said to be in this European capital city? Lisbon

Clue #3 - The former name for the island where La Buse was hanged in 1730? Bourbon

Clue #4 -This treasure hunter searched for La Buse's fortune at Bel Ombre for nearly 30 years? Wilkins

Clue #5 - The name of the ship that La Buse captured in the early 1720s that was his biggest catch? Vierge du cap

Clue #6 - The centrepiece of La Buse's treasure that had religious significance? Fiery Cross of Goa

Clue #7 - La Buse's cryptogram mentions "a woman waterlogged" that refers to this character in Greek mythology? Andromeda

(STB)