PIRACIES
(Contd.)
if leading into danger, so we did not see them.
"Having concluded the service we returned to Hong Kong, here we anchored at 4 h. 10 m.
800
"The following is supposed to be about the correct account of the pirate fleet:
JUNKS TONS GUNS GUNS MEN
1 300 Iva 18 120
3 250 10 ea. 30 80 ea.
240 ea. 9 from 1150 to 180 ea. Sea. 72 60 ea. 540
900 Killed 220
Escaped 660
"The nine small junks succeeded in throwing their guns overboard, and our account had therefore to be taken from the gun carriages. Of the twenty prisoners captured, two died of their wounds during the night.
"From the rapidity with which we were hurried off we found ourselves only able to muster a poor dinner the first day; this morning however a deputation of the villagers waited upon the Captain with the acceptable present of a couple of bullocks, a lot of fowls, and a supply of fruits, as an acknowledgment of our services in ridding them of their unwelcome visitors. One fisherman was unfortunately killed."
A terse, seamanlike account: enough incident, however, for quite a "story" in any modern newspaper.