Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 431

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Loss of the Cutter Louisa.

JULY,

a large junk, and one of them had picked up the box containing the com- modore's decorations, which we distributed amongst ourselves and put in our pockets. We were very badly off for shoes; I had only one, and the conse- quence was my feet were much cut; we walked along over two hills in single file, and as we topped the third, saw an extensive valley with a long sandy beach on which the sea was breaking heavily. A creek ran up on the left side by a considerable village or hamlet, and the place seemed full of people. Scarcely had we appeared over the hill when we were seen by the Chinese; the women and children ran away screaming Fanqui! Fanqui! and the men, armed with bill-hooks rushed up the path in hundreds, railing at and menae- ing us. However, our benevolent guide explained matters to them, and about 60 passed us to go and plunder the wreck. At length one of them stop- ped captain Elliot, and commenced rifling his pockets; I was walking behind captain Elliot, and the same fellow thrust his hand into my pockets, in which was the star of the Hanoverian Guelphic order: I squeezed my arm to my side to prevent his taking it, when he shook his bill-book in my face, and another fellow jumped upon a large stope, and flourished his weapon over my head; still I held on, when the first man struck me a severe blow on the arm with the back of the bill-hook. Captain Elliot looked round just then, and said it was no use resisting, and that I had better give up every- thing to them, they being twenty to one, and we wholly unarmed, and in their power. I accordingly resisted no longer, and repeated captain Elliot's advice to those behind me. Having taken the contents of our pockets, and eased the bearers of the beef, pork, and gin of their loads, they returned and stripped us of clothing, just allowing a regard for common decency, after which they molested us no further. The only two amongst us who were struck were the cominodore (who was knocked down) and myself.

On our arrival before a little shed, one of the outermost houses of the vil- lage, our friend commenced preparing it for our reception, a proceeding we did not by any means admire. as we had understood that a boat would at once take us to Macao; but he said the wind was too high, which in truth it was, and we were therefore compelled to enter and wait the result. Our man, who was named Mingfong, made a fire, and give us a breakfast of rice and salt fish, which we were too happy to get; having satisfied our appetites, we en- deavored to dry our clothes and make ourselves as comfortable as men in our situation could do. We presently ascertained with great satisfaction that there were no officers in the place, so that if we could manage properly there was every probability of our escaping a trip to Peking. Captain Elliot in- creased the sum originally offered to 2000 dollars, if they would take us to Macao as soon as the wind moderated, and after some difficulty it was agreed to.

We had the satisfaction of seeing the people passing and repassing with different articles of our property in their possession, many of which they brought to us to inquire the uses of. The bodies of the three Chinese had been discovered almost on the spot where the Louisa was wrecked; and as they