A Seaman's Narrative of his Adventures during a Captivity among Chinese Pirates, on the coast of Cochin-China, and afterwards during a journey on foot across that country, in the years 1857-8

Chapter I

Arrival at Hong-kong — Crews discharged — Dislike of British Seamen to the Government Service — Buildings and Population of Victoria — Hong-kong Harbour and Shipping — Situation in the Police Force— Sook-ham-poo — Chinese Disturbance — Engagement as Master of a Chinese "Lorcha" — Resignation of the Police Employment 1

Chapter II

Departure from Hong-kong Harbour — Bound for Wai-how — A Gale — Chinese Compass and Navigation — Heavy Sea — The Lorcha in danger — Guns thrown overboard — Several Day s of Rough Weather — The Lorcha driven out of her Course — The Gale abates — The Course changed — Land in sight 12 a CONTENTS. VI

Chapter III. Page

Chinese Mode of solving Doubts— Cape Verela — Fishermen in the Bay — Fleet of Pirates in sight — Attempt to escape them— The Chase — Resistance — -Capture of the Lorcha by the Pirates — Brought back to the Bay — Gloomy Forebodings ....... 20

Chapter IV

Interview with Ching Ah'ling, the Pirate Chief — His Promise of good Treatment — Invitation to dine with him — My Critical Situation — Comfort from finding my Bible — Difficulty of escaping — The Pirates remove the Cargo from the Lorcha — Their Barbarity to the Crew . 33

Chapter V

On board Ching Ah'ling's Tymung — Reception by the Crew — Anns — Cabin — Opium Smoking — Conversation with Ching Ah'ling — Appointment as Gunner to one of his Tymungs — Religious Ceremonies of the Chinese — Banquet in Ching Ah'ling's Cabin . . . .40 CHAPTER VT. Parting with the Crew of the Lorcha— No Prospect of Escape — Transferred to my new Post — Treatment — My Interpreter— His History and Adventures — "Hong-kong English" . CONTENTS. VII

Chapter VII. Page

Visit from Ching Ah'ling — Drilling the Crew of the Tymung — The Pirates set sail — A Junk in sight — Signal to Chase — Capture and Plunder of the Junk — Treatment of those on Board — Another Chase — Disappointment — Return to Anchor 60 CHAPTER VTII. Pirate Fleet sets sail again — Fookien Junk in sight — Chase — Desperate Defence of the Junk — Its Capture — -Massacre of the Crew — Plunder and Destruction of the Junk — Return to Anchor — Inattention to the Wounded — Uneasiness at my Situation — Resolve to resign it . 70

Chapter IX

European Vessel passing at a distance — Attempt to attract her Notice — The Pirates forbid it — The Vessel passes without observing us — A Gale — Hone-cohe Harbour — Visit to a Cochinese Fishing Village — Habits of the Fishermen — Their Kindness to me — Return on Board — In Trouble from losing a Sandpan . . . .87

Chapter X

My Crew attack me — I leap overboard, and swim for my Life — Wounded in the Thigh — Rescued by the Fishermen—Lodged in a Joss-House — Visit from some of my old Crew of the Lorcha — Chigoes — Departure of the Fleet — Hospitality of the Natives — Head-Man of the Village — Assurance of Safety .... CONTENTS.

Chapter XI. Page

Native Productions — Snake-hunting— Insects — Native Women — Their personal Ornaments — Summoned before the Elders of the Village— Their Dress— Betel-nut chewing — Black Teeth prized — Want of an Interpreter — Notice to prepare to leave the Village . . . Ill

Chapter XII

Depression of Spirits at my Critical Position — Last Visit to the Fishermen — Parting Kindness of the Villagers — Mandarin Boats — Leave Coh-cah Bay for Hone-cohe — Passage — The Crew — Their Arms — Hone-cohe Bay — Harbour and Shipping — Town — Astonishment of the Inhabitants at seeing a European .... 120

Chapter XIII

The Commodore at Hone-cohe — Not allowed to leave the Boat — My Thigh-wound troublesome — Taken before the Quong — Cochinese Prisoners — Court of Justice — Reception by the Quong — His Appearance — Transferred to the care of a Mandarin — Journey to Quong-foo — Cochinese Travelling — Hot Sand — Lodging for the Night 132 CHAPTER XTV. Journey pursued — Sugar-Canes — Jungle — Hospitable Reception at a Native Inn — Arrival at Quong-foo — Silk and Cotton Manufactures — Transferred to another Mandarin — The Court-house — Corporal Punishment . CONTENTS. IX

Chapter XV. Page

Detention at Quong-foo — Conducted back to Hone-cohe — Pyramid Islands — Quong-nam Harbour — Shipping — Town — Opthalmia — The Quong's Court-yard — Excessive Heat — Court-house — The Quong's Personal Appearance — Removal from the Town — Mandarin's Residence 154

Chapter XVI

Mandarin's Family — Chinese Dislike of Europeans — Visit from Cochinese Gentlemen — Cochinese Postman — Set out for Kang-war-ting — Bad Roads — Mandarin Station — Mosquitoes — Natural Productions of the Country — Spices — Fruit — Curiosity of the Inhabitants — Kang-war-ting — Population — Quong's Palace . . . 170 CHAPTER XVIT. Uneasiness as to my Fate — Lodged in the Prison — Treatment of Criminals — The Governor of the Prison — Opium Smoking — Life in the Prison — Flogging . . 183

Chapter XVIII

The Quong of Kang-war-ting — Interview — Sale of a Wife — Summoned to the Quong's Palace — A Cochinese speaking English — The Quong alleviates my Condition . CONTENTS. X

Chapter XIX. Page

Allowed to walk in the City— Buildings— Cultivation and Use of Hemp— Weaving— Sugar-Cane— Rice— Native Dress — Arms — A Puzzle to the Natives 206

Chapter XX

Handsome Allowance granted me by the Quong — Kang-war-ting Horse Races — Elephant Race — Foot Racing — Archery— The Theatre — Order from the King of Cochin-China to forward me to Singapore — The Quong's Kindness on my Departure. ..... 216

Chapter XXI

Removal from the Prison — The King's Order to forward me to Singapore — Leave Kang-war-ting — Appearance of the Country — Party of wandering Malays — Tiger-snaring — The Sea-side — Sufferings on the Journey — Rest at a Station — Healing of my Wound — Journey continued— Remarkable Ruins — Plain of Toa-tai-ting . 225

Chapter XXII

Toa-tai-ting — Reception there — The Prison — Criminal Torture — Food of the People — Tea — Cochinese Language — Chinese Dialects — The Cochinese Numerals . . CONTENTS. XI

Chapter XXIII. Page

Leave Toa-tai-ting — Appearance of the Country — Abundance of Mica — Lizard-hunting — A Storm — Cultivated Hills — Cochinese Entertainment .... 255

Chapter XXIV

Illness of the Mandarin in charge of me — Journey delayed — A Lizard Hunt — Novel Mode of getting a Light — Journey resumed — Arrival at Bing-wah-ting — Its Appearance — Saigon — Its Trade — French Designs in Cochin-China/ — Openings for Commercial Enterprise . 263

Chapter XXV

Attack of Fever and Ague — Native Doctor — Present from the Quong — Set out for Artien-ting by Boat — Cambodia River — Mandarin Junk — Interview with a Mandarin — His Astonishment at the Appearance of a European — Mosquitoes on the Rivers .... 274

Chapter XXVI

City of Artien-ting or Con-kow — Its Buildings and Shipping — Commerce — My Obligation to the Cochinese — Passage in a Mandarin Boat to a British Vessel — Reception on Board the Brig Punch — Kindness shown to me — Melancholy Accident — Engaged as Mate of the British Barque Kim-quan-seng COCHIN-CHINA : A SEAMAN'S NARRATIVE OF ADVENTURE.