93
that the junk had been captured by the pirates four days before
that she belonged near Macao, and so I sent her to that place, so there in charge of some Chinese Sailors belonging to a mandarin station in the Bay. Early next morning (16th) I returned to Buckshne, the pirates on seeing the gunboat over the hills. I landed the small arm men after firing a few rounds of shot at the town and took possession of it.
About an hour afterwards three Mandarin junks anchored in the creek and landed about 180 or 200 soldiers (as previously arranged) and I embarked my men. The pirates, to the number of 40 or 50, on seeing this re-entered the town, clearing it of the soldiers who ran down to their sampans in great confusion, seemingly exchanging shot with the pirates who I estimate killed at least 10 or 12, besides wounding many more.
Seeing this, I landed my small arm men again (17 in number) under cover of the guns of the ship, in the face of a very sharp fire from the pirates who retreated slowly to the hills, and I re-took the town. The Chinese informer was wounded severely (since dead) but no other casualty occurred.
I killed 9 pirates in the town, besides hearing that many were wounded, but I regret that I was not able to take any prisoners. Before burning the place, I searched many of the houses, in all of...