CO129-030 - Bonham - 1849 [8-12] — Page 269

stokeholes at 111°),

boiler which had

been partially tubed, previously

departure was

100s corr

to

my completed, and two others & to one : I was therefore

remierod equal

cuabled to proceed.

the next m

.

mor

morning

" clock, and the "Medear" anchored off Trompak at 6 = 30 on the morning of the 7th instant

G

I immediately pulled into the bay my gig, accompanied by Mr H.C. "W.W." Jauncey, Master of the Mazeppa,

iw

and, a..

Dr.

Hastings, Acting Surgeon of this ship, Chinese Interpreter, with the view of obtaining a Pilot for the coast of Shainan, and if possible to procure information regarding the missing ships.

armod

On entering the harbour, I found it completely filled with heavily armed junks to the number of fifty or thereabouts, fifteen being very large with upwards of 20 guns each, all full of men, and

263

to the description of the piratical

vessels given in Mr. David Taylor's letters

of the 4th of

July

last. There were

upwards of one hundred

likewise

cargo junks,

several of whom I boarded with the intention

of ascertaining

022.

the residence of the Mandarin on shore ; from them I learnt that he had retreated into the country, and that they

themselves

were detained by the abovementioned

armed junks, until payment had been

vessels made for the ransoms of their cargoes.

The appearance of this steam vessel in the Roads, and the approach of my

gig into the harbour caused much excitement amongst these armed

junks, and I considered it prudent to return on

board

the "Medea" without landing, as there was a Tower

some distance in land.

Whilst falling towards the

ship, I observed

a division of five large

armed junks get under weigh, and