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Inclosure 5 in No. 1..
The Viceroy of the two Kuang Provinces to Mr. Mayers,
Canton, May 30, 1869. THE Viceroy received, on the 25th instant, a Report from Lieutenant-Colonel Shang Chang-mao and Pao Ying-hiung (Superintendents of the gun-boat squadrons) to the following effect :-
"The Acting British Consul, Mr. Mayers, having personally represented the occurrence of acts of piracy among the islands to the eastward of Hong Kong, and requested that a gun-boat be dispatched in company with a British vessel of war, and to cruise in that direction, we hereupon directed Major Fan Kan-ting, Commandant of the gun-boat Chên-to,' to proceed on the 12th instant to Hong Kong for this purpose, and after visiting the neighbourhood of Mirs Bay, &c., to go on to the coast in the vicinity of Cupche, and use every effort conjointly (with the British force) for seizing any pirates met with during the cruise. These particulars have already been reported to your Excellency, and Major Fan Kan-t'ing has now reported his proceedings as follows :---
[Report of cruise in vicinity of Mirs Bay omitted as unimportant.]
On the 15th the two gun-boats (Chên-to' and His Majesty's gun-boat 'Bouncer') anchored together at Ta Sing Bay, near Ping Hoi, and it was thereupon agreed, on the proposition of Lieutenant Lloyd, that we should proceed on the following day to the Pratas Shoal, lying about 150 miles to seaward from Cupelie, and overhaul the neighbourhood in search of pirates. Leaving our anchorage on the following day, accordingly, we proceeded in that direction, and, by keeping under way through the night, arrived at tlie Pratas Shoal at 10 A.M. on the 17th instant.
"I have to remark that, although the Pratas Shoal is described as lying 400 or 500 li from the coast of Cupche, it is in reality an isolated shoal lying in the midst of the China Sea, semi-circular in shape, the hollow of its curve facing the north-west, and some 100 miles or more in total circumference. (The rocks of which it consists) are alternately covered and left dry by the tide. Near the edge of the shoal is a small sandy island, barely 3 miles in length, where, although a certain amount of herbage does exist, there are no inhabitants. The whole place is studded with rocks in all directions, the winds and tides are variable and not to be depended upon, and an extraordinarily heavy sea prevails all around. The spot is scarcely ever visited either by Chinese or foreign trading-vessels. Having ascertained, in concert with Lieutenant Lloyd, that there were no traces of pirates making this their resort and plundering trading-vessels, we left the Pratas on the 19th instant and proceeded on our return voyage, arriving at Hong Kong on the 20th, and, after reporting to the Commodore, procceded to Canton," &c.
On receipt of the foregoing Report, the Viceroy has to communicate the same for the honourable Consul's information, and avails, &c.
Inclosure 6 in No. 1.
Mr. Mayers to the Viceroy of the two Kuang Provinces.
Canton, June 1, 1869.
THE Undersigned has the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excel- lency's despatch of the 30th ultimo, forwarding copy of the Report made by Major Fan Kan-ting respecting the visit of the gun-boat "Chên-to" to the Pratas Shoal, &c., which he has perused with attention.
He begs to observe in reply that the Pratas Shoal, lying as it does some 170 miles eastward from the coast of Kwangtung, occupies a position in the midst of the China Sea precisely in the track of vessels sailing north or south from the Chinese ports, as a result of which it frequently occurs that vessels are lost upon it when deviating, iu even the slightest degree from their proper course, owing either to tempestuous weather or defective observations.
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Such avoidable disasters occur on an average two or three times in the course of the year, and it has become a practice with the junk people of this province to lie in wait at the shoal for cases of shipwreck. The moment a foreign vessel strikes they rush on board and commence, regardless of all remonstrance or resistance, to strip her of everything they can lay their hands upon. It is highly necessary that measures be taken to put a stop to this lawless state of affairs. Ere long, undoubtedly, a light- house will be constructed at this spot, which will enable vessels to avoid the danger of the shoals, but an undertaking of this description will be a work of time, and in the meanwhile steps should be taken for affording efficient protection to vessels in distress, as is the duty of every civilized and humane Government. The Undersigned would point out to your Excellency that an island exists in the midst of the shoul which is about 3 miles in length, and where, although the island itself is not inhabited, vessels may be auchored and used as a place of residence. He therefore begs that your Excellency will take into consideration the propriety of stationing one or two war-junks at this locality, where their presence will both serve as a check on the desperadoes who live by the plunder of foreign vessels and will also enable your Excellency to carry out the provisions of the 20th Article of the Treaty of Tien-tsin, where it is stipulated that if any British vessel be wrecked or stranded on the coast of China the Chinese authorities shall adopt measures for its relief and security and extend friendly treatment to those on board. Such a consummation will be worthy of your Excellency's benign disposition.
With reference to Major Fan Kan-t'ing's Report, the Undersigned begs leave to observe that it does not tally in all particulars with that made by Lieutenant Lloyd, R.N., commanding His Majesty's gun-boat "Bouncer," who mentions that on reaching the Pratas he found in the lagoon a Chinese junk, having sixteen men and five women on board, and that on searching her in concert with Major Fan Kan-t'ing and Captain Edwards, Commander of the "Chên-to," he found her to be filled with articles forming part of the equipment of foreign vessels, besides a quantity of miscel laneous cargo. The master of the junk, on being interrogated, stated that he had been at anchor there for two months. It is plain therefore that this vessel was lying at the shoal on the look-out for cases of shipwreck, and the Undersigned is surprised to find that Major Fan Kan-t'ing makes no mention of her in the Report sent in.
He avails, &c. (Signed)
Inclosure 7 in No. 1.
The Viceroy Jui-lin to Mr. Mayers.
W. F. MAYERS.
Canton, June 6, 1869.
THE Viceroy has to acknowledge the receipt on the 1st instant of the honourablo Consul's despatch relating to the Report made by Major Fan K'an-ting respecting the Pratas Shoal (despatch requoted in full), and, in reply, he has to state that, of the shoal in question, the outer side is under the jurisdiction of the right battalion of the brigade of Lung-men, and the inner side under that of the left battalion of the above brigade, and also of the district magistracy of Io-p'u, but in the despatch now received the Viceroy finds that no distinction is drawn as to either "outer" or "inner" side. In all cases, however, of shipwreck on the part of foreign vessels along the coast, it is incumbent upon the local authorities, in fulfilment of the Treaty, to take measures for affording them protection and assistance; but the request contained in the despatch now under acknowledgment, to the effect that steam gun-boats may be stationed at the Pratas for the purpose of affording such protec- tion, has not the support of any Article in the Treaty, and it is not expedient to accede to it.
The Viceroy issues orders to the district Magistrate of Ho-p'u for the latter's guidance, and also to the above-mentioned military departments, to the effect that in the event of any foreign vessel being hereafter wrecked upon or near the Pratas Shoal, measures must be taken in accordance with the Treaty for affording them protection, and also that efficient steps must be taken without intermission for seizing and bringing to trial the piratical characters who resort to that locality, as a necessary part of the proceedings for affording the protection in question. The Viceroy also instructs Colonels Pao and Shang, the Commandants of the gun-boat squadron, to examine into the discrepancy pointed out in the despatch now under
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