32.
i
33.
421
the every precaution liberated from jous. house several men including some passengers, without any opposition. The master of the junk and about 4 men were not found, and are still missing.
I've then proceeded to burn the large junks drawn up in line abreast of the trader, during which operation our boats were fired from behind rocks and other shelter. The gunboat further moved in to cover them with musketry, leaving the recovered junk with only her own crew; upon seeing which a party of pirates endeavoured to seize her, but they were speedily dispersed.
Among the junks were two belonging to Hong Kong fitted for piratical service - one of them was recognized by the interpreter, who had been a policeman at Stanley, belonging to Stanley Bay.
An unusual quantity of arms was found on the junks; many were new and evidently of European manufacture, such as guns placed ready for action on the decks of the other junks, which were very different in their appointments from the ordinary piratical craft of the pirates; the small arms were in excellent order; the swords and spears were...