Pirates in "The Tosa Diary" (by Ki no Tsurayuki, translated by William N. Porter)

"26 FEB. 21st day. At these words and while still traveling on, he who was ‘the passenger’ noticed the waves, and remembered that the pirates had threatened to take revenge upon him, when once he had left the Province; all his hair turned white, when the waves once more became rough." "28 FEB. 23rd day. The sun shone forth from the clouds, and, as there was said to be danger of pirates during the voyage, he prayed for protection to the Shinto and Buddhist Gods." "3 MAR. 26th day. Can this really b true? As they say the pirates are in chase, the boat is not to start before midnight, and offerings are to be made while rowing. The steersman accordingly offered prayer-papers, and, as these fluttered away to the east, he prayed, ‘Graciously allow our gallant ship to be rowed with all speed in the direction taken by these prayer-papers.’" "7 MAR. 30th day. The wind and rain had stopped; and so, hearing that the pirates never travel by night, the boat set out to cross the Awa Channel at midnight. It was so dark that they could not see which was east and which was west; but men and women prayed earnestly to the Shinto and Buddhist Gods, and so the dreaded channel was crossed in safety. It was not till the Hour of the Tiger or the Hare (4.0 or 6.0 a.m.) that they passed the Isle of Nujima, crossed (the mouth of ) the Tanagawa, and, hurrying on as fast as possible, reached the Sea of Izumi. That day there were no waves upon the sea, thanks to the blessings vouchsafed by the Shinto and Buddhist Gods. Up to date the days passed on board ship amounted to nine-and-thirty days. Now that they had reached the Land of Izumi, there was no further question of pirates."