Complex sentence: After an unknown period of time, Bowen's ship was attacked, and he captured, by French pirates who then crossed the Atlantic Ocean, heading to Madagascar, but ran aground near Elesa to the south of the island.
Split into simpler sentences: After an unknown period of time, Bowen's ship was attacked, and he was captured, by French pirates. The pirates then crossed the Atlantic Ocean, heading to Madagascar, but ran aground near Elesa to the south of the island.