Before the invention of modern toilet paper, people, including pirates and other sailors, relied on a variety of readily available materials for personal hygiene after using the toilet. One method commonly used by sailors involved a simple device called a 'tow rag'.
Like other seafarers of the time, pirates would have utilized similar pragmatic solutions for hygiene while at sea. The challenges of life aboard a ship meant resourceful use of materials was essential.
The Sailboat 'Tow Rag'
According to historical practices among sailors, a practical solution for wiping was the use of a 'tow rag'. This was a piece of frayed rope that was kept conveniently located near the ship's toilet area (often an overhanging plank or specific structure allowing waste to fall into the sea).
- What it was: A long strip or piece of rope, often with a frayed end.
- How it was used: The rope was typically attached to the ship near the toilet area and allowed to hang down into the water below. After use, the rag could be rinsed by the movement of the ship through the water or by dipping it manually.
- Why it was used: It was a simple, reusable, and easily available material on a sailing vessel, where cloth or other soft materials were scarce and valuable for other purposes.
This pragmatic approach to sanitation highlights the tough and resourceful nature of life at sea during the age of sail, applying to all who lived and worked on ships, including pirates.
While specific pirate accounts detailing hygiene practices are rare, it's reasonable to assume they adopted the common, practical methods used by the sailors they often originated from or interacted with. The 'tow rag' stands out as a documented method used aboard ships.
In summary, pirates likely used simple, reusable items like the 'tow rag' made from frayed rope, rinsed in the sea, similar to other sailors of the era, due to the practical limitations and availability of materials aboard a ship.
