56.
There roved the seas of South China in the early forties, a notorious character by the name of Chui Apou. Ás a pirate chief, he never enjoyed the power of the great Chang Pao, but he succeeded in making his unwelcome presence felt in the waters. He commanded a pirate fleet of 23 junks, carrying from 12 to 18 guns each, and manned by 1,800 men. In September-October, 1849, this fleet was entirely destroyed by the British in a series of hard-fought engagements. Chui Apou had really asked for this smashing defeat, for earlier in the year he murdered Capt. Da Costa, R.E., and Lieut. Dreyer of the Ceylon Rifles on the beach at Wong-ma-kok near Stanley.
Two years after his fleet had been destroyed, the infamous Chui fell into the hands of the British authorities. He was tried and convicted of manslaughter, but ended his useless life by committing suicide in gaol.
Another great leader was Shap-Ng-tsai who commanded 64 war junks, armed with 1,224 guns and manned by 3,180 followers. In the same month that saw the annihilation of Chui Apou's fleet Shap Ng tsai was attacked and 58 of his junks destroyed.
Page 437
Perhaps the best remembered historical association of Chinese and foreigners in Hongkong is that commencing in 1854 during the Taiping Rebellion. Fatshan had fallen in July. Canton was panic stricken. In September Kowloon City was taken and retaken repeatedly by the rebels and Imperialists and crowds of refugees flocked to Hongkong. Even in Victoria, armed bands of Taipings at times paraded the streets till in December, 1854, some hundreds of them were arrested when embarking, to attack Kowloon City.
24
In January, 1855, Hongkong very nearly saw a naval battle fought in the very waters of the Harbour. Early one morning, nine Imperial war junks arrived, crowded with 2,000 soldiers. The war junks of the Taipings, moored on the opposite side of the harbour, cleared their decks for action.
In the nick of time, the British authorities intervened. The commanders of both forces were ordered to leave the harbour immediately, and showing commendable common sense, did what they were told.
In September 1856, the Taiping returned and sought leave to charter transports for troops to Poklo, their base of operations against Kwangtung, but permission was refused. In a veritable orgy of bloodshed, the Taiping revolt was crushed. It was estimated that in 1855, 80,000 rebels passed through the city gates of Canton to the Field of Blood near the river, and were there beheaded.
Despite these troublesome times, the Chinese look back upon the years 1854 to 1860 as the period when a better class of people began to settle in Hongkong. Rioting and disorders have occurred since then, it is true, but it is also safe to say that the Chinese in Hongkong to-day realise and appreciate that here they may find peace, security and justice, and are happy in it.
1
56.
There roved the seas of South China in the early forties, a notorious character by the name of Chui Apou. Ás a pirate chief, he never enjoyed the power of the great Chang Pao, but he succeeded in making his unwelcome presence felt in the waters. He commanded a pirate fleet of 23 junks, carrying from 12 to 18 guns each, and manned by 1,800 men. In September- October, 1849, this fleet was entirely destroyed by the British in a series of hard-fought engagements. Chui Apou had really asked for this smashing defeat, for earlier in the year he murdered Capt. Da Costa, R.E., and Lieut. Dreyer of the Ceylon Rifles on the beach át Wong-ma-kok near Stanley.
Two years after his fleet had been destroyed, the infamous Chui fell into the hands of the British authorities. He was tried and convicted of manslaughter, but ended his useless life by committing suicide in gaol.
Another great leader was Shap-Ng-tsai who commanded
437
64 war junks, armed with 1,224 guns and manned by 3,180 followers. In the same month that saw the annihilation of Chui Apou's fleet Shap Ng tsai was attacked and 58 of his junks destroyed.
Perhaps the best remembered historical association of Chinese and foreigners in Hongkong is that commencing in 1854 during the Taiping Rebellion. Fatshan had fallen in July. Canton was panic stricken. In September Kowloon City was taken and retaken repeatedly by the rebels and Imperialists and crowds of refugees flocked to Hongkong. Even in Victoria, armed bands of Taipings at times paraded the streets till · in December, 1854, some hundreds of them were arrested when embarking, to attack Kowloon City.
24
In January, 1855, Hongkong very nearly saw a naval battle fought in the very waters of the Harbour. Early one morning, nine Imperial war junks arrived, crowded with 2,000 soldiers. The war junks of the Taipings, moored on the opposite side of the harbour, cleared their decks for action.
In the nick of time, the British authorities intervened. The command ers of both forces were ordered to leave the harbour immediately, and showing commendable common sense, did what they were told.
In September 1856, the Taiping returnéd and sought leave to charter transports for troops to Poklo, their base of operations against Kwangtung, but permission was refused. In a veritable orgy of bloodshed, the Taiping revolt was crushed. It was estimated that in 1855, 80,000 rebels passed through the city gates of Canton to the Field of Blood near the river, and were there beheaded.
Despite these troublesome times, the Chinese look back upon the years 1854 to 1860 as the period when a better class of people began to settle in Hongkong, Rioting and disorders have occurred since then, it is true, but it is also safe to say that the Chinese in Hongkong to-day realise and appreciate that here they may find peace, security and justice, and are happy in it.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.