Exactly consistent with the Chinese character, their utter recklessness in the pursuit of gain is only equalled by the patience with which they will prosecute the most remote and difficult chances of success. The land thieves in Hongkong have burrowed and mined under it to such an extent, from drains and houses, that every Treasury has had to be strengthened with masses of Granite and Brick, and even then are scarcely safe. The Chinese robbers are equally ingenious and persevering, and though it may be rather anticipating danger, to presume that they may entertain the idea of seizing one of the Company's Steamers, the time has clearly arrived to provide most fully against such a Contingency.
That this state of things should be allowed to exist is the more extensive and remarkable on a Coast where Commerce is so valuable that the Company should therefore be obliged to have recourse to unusual precautions is to say the least remarkable. Facts in the present day show that really effective steps are not being taken to put an end to the evils. The disruption of the Ley Onto fleet, the Chinese Government have made no effort whatever, and the costly mismanagement of that business, for which the British Government is morally responsible, gives the Authorities at Peking something like an excuse for not incurring any further expenditure. The main check therefore is given by our Open Boats; but as they are not systematically employed for the purpose, it may easily be supposed that an occasional Cruise or Anise has but little effect on such an extensive range of scallops and haunts of the Piratical population. In fact, these vessels can scarcely be said to act, as they are only sent out to deal Vengeance after the news has been received of some capture in the vicinity of Hongkong or one of the Consular Ports. It must be admitted that they are always prompt to do this work, but the final result of such expeditions are of little value, and from recent experiences, it might be doubted that two pirates rise up in place of every one destroyed.
It is too evident that nothing short of a systematic organization for the suppression of Piracy and thoroughly carried out will eradicate this evil or render the Coast of China safe for Merchant vessels. The facilities which the Chinese now possess for procuring European arms, with their skill and...
Page 61
exactly consistent with the Chinese character Their utters rect lipness in the pursuit of gain is only equalled by the patience
the patience with which they will prosecute the most remote and
and diffient of success. The land thieves in Hongstong have
des
It means
en
burrowed and mined under it to such an extent, from drains and
and
houses, that every Treasury has had to be strengthened with makes of Granite and Brow &even
are E
caracly infe. The cea equally ingenious
such places
robbero
are
persevering and though it may be rathed antion eating danger, to presume that they may entertain the idea of seizing me of the Company's Steamers the time has ceared by arrived to provide most fully against such a Contingency.
That this state of things should
be allowed to exist is to extensive and
on a Coast where Commerc
that the Company.
should
therefore be obliged to have recourse to there
uvenal precautions
are to
any the least
day:
verf. set there
remarkable facts in the present days
really effective steps being taken as flar an end to the evils. Thin
are Ho
as I am aware to put
Juice
the disruption of the Lay Ontore fleet she Chinese, Government have made no effort, whatever and the Coatly mismanagement of that business for which the British Govemment,
Curi
61
morally
ally responsibly, gives the Authorities at Petkin something like an excuse for no
incurring auf further expenditure. The mit check therefore
to
which is given by our Open Roats; but as
are not
Joney in that. Brate; they systematically employed for the pur prée it may easily be supposed that an occasional Ghee Ront Anise has but little effect on such an extensive range of scaliard
and
Mainst the resources
of bu Piratical population. In fact these versels
ecarcely be said to armice as they are
Caw Rear
only ranch duch to deal
Vengeance after the news Leen received of some capture in the
The sincity,
Las
of Hongkong.
me of the Consular Ports. Its must be admitted that they are always fromp to do this work but the fermament, result of such expeditions are of little valve and
recent experiences it might be deserted that two pirates
ise up in place
junding by
of every one destroyed.
les r
edew
ect
It is too esident, that, nothing
short of a expstem organized for the suppression of banay and thoroughly carried out will eradicate this evil or render the Coast of The China safe for Merchant, vessels.
facilities which the
lities which the Chinese now porsets for
their skill and
procuring European arms.
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