Trelawney often exaggerated his adventures, especially when discussing the details of his naval career. For example, he claimed that he had deserted the navy and formed a band of pirates that traveled throughout Asia and fought the British Navy. Descriptions of his adventures often included duels and romance, such as his marrying an Arab girl name Zella who was later poisoned by a jealous rival. This kind of embellishment or exaggeration was common in his stories about his past, and his biographers have been divided as to whether he intentionally created a persona that he presented to the world, or if he really believed the stories that he created.