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12. While in company with Mr. Botten, Captain Rony ascertained that the four pinks had been taken in consequence of the capture of the two Hakaus in you, who had taken refuge in Sha Zai, a piratical stronghold in the vicinity of Macao. On the 6th March, he wrote to the Superintendent detailing the arrangements it would be necessary to make in order to catch them; to this letter was added another on the 18th reporting a fresh case of piracy not far from Chun Wan, stating that the pirates, then about 6 hours sail from Hong Kong, were sixty or forty in number. Mr. Botten proposed to go to where the pirates then were, nominally in search of a witness, but in reality to attack the two junks which had committed the piracy.
13. The proposal was agreed to, and on the 20th March, Mr. Botten set sail for Mirs Bay. At one time, he very nearly succeeded in coming up with the pirates, but from want of time was compelled to give up the chase, though not before he had obtained information that the two junks in question belonged to one Mui...