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officers concealed themselves on board disguised as passengers, and for this the carelessness of the captain is responsible. Again, while the ship was being pirated, she continued on her ordinary course and neither gave the alarm by blowing the whistle nor hoisted the police flag, so that the police officials could not possibly know that a piracy was being committed.
Some time ago I proposed that soldiers should be stationed on board foreign steamers to protect them and to search pas- sengers coming on board. The feasibility of this suggestion can be seen from the fact that soldiers have been stationed for the last few years on Chinese Launches to search the passengers, with the result that the pirating of such launches has graduall decreased.
With a view, therefore, to eradicate this evil, and to ensure the safety of passengers, I would urge you to direct all British steamers to conform to the regulations in this province for the searching of all such vessels plying in inland waters, of which I have the honour to enclose a copy, and I beg that you will see your way to accept them and will favour me shortly with a reply.
I avail &c.