Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 533

516

Six Months with the Chinese Expedition.

SEP.

The attack made on some piratical craft in the Chusan Archipe- lago, when the ships were proceeding thence to the north, is thus described:

""

During our passage, the Pylades corvette, captain Anson, fell in with three pirate junks, and not being aware of their character, sent two of her boats to board one. As soon as they ranged alongside, upwards of one hundred men started up, who had hitherto kept themselves concealed, and commenced firing and hnrling spears and stinkpots upon the crews of the boats. Our men immediately shoved off a short distance, and pouring in some well-directed volleys killed more than half of the number, and the remainder jumped overboard and made for the shore, which many were destined never to reach in their wounded state. The junk was then burut and set adrift, but the Pylades was unable to came up with the remaining two, with whom she had no chance while they were running before the wind. However, in this affair she had two men killed and five others wound- ed. These junks, and the men-of-war, carry nets along the quarter, to throw over small boats that may come alongside in a mélée, which, if done effectually, renders them an easy prey." Page 100.

The particulars of the wreck on the Lewchew islands is more cir- cumstantially detailed by lord J. than by any other writer that has yet fallen in our our way.

J

"One of the transports, called the Indian Oak, had been sent from Chusan in the month of July, or beginning of August, with the let- ters of the expedition, and was unfortunately wrecked on the coast of Great Lewchew, which island captain Basil Hall describes in one of his books. Luckily for the wrecked mariners they fell into the hands of good Samaritans, for the kindness of the natives exceeded all that has hitherto been known. They stood on the beach ready to receive them with open arms, changed their dripping clothes for their own, brought them into their houses and fed them, and, not contented with this, wandered along the coast, endeavoring to pick up the articles washed from the vessel, returning them to the right owners, who all declared that they do not believe that a single nail of the vessel that was driven on shore was appropriated by a native without permission. Their greatest anxiety was to send home the remains to queen Victoria, and at length they decided upon building a junk out of her relics to send to England, as they said to her ma- jesty. She came to Chusan in the beginning of October, and seemed rather a pretty vessel, although the sailors had painted upon the stern the Folly." Page 129.

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