Sir,
500
British Consulate,
Canton, July 26th. 1899.
37
I regret to have again to bring to your notice the ever increasing piracy and robbery going on in this province. Since the case of the piracy of the British steamer "Wo On" on May 23rd, there have been brought to my notice two cases where tea leaf on its way to the lacao market was stopped and held for a heavy ransom, and one case where two boats containing piece goods belonging to a British merchant were stopped in the open river near Tak Hing and detained with a demand for $250 blackmail.
On the 19th instant, a band of pirates seized a Chinese launch plying under the Inland Waters Regulations and on the following day attacked the large Portuguese launch "Taiping" near Kongmoon. They fired on her and then boarded, shooting the Portuguese in charge who is now lying in a critical state. On the 22nd instant, a British-owned lorcha, the "Quemoy", returning from Canton to Hongkong.
H.G.O. Bax-Ironside
H.M. Chargé d'affaires,
PEKING.