Transcriber's note:
Inconsistency in hyphenation and spelling is as in the original.
In this etext a 'breve' is represented with:-
a - [)a]
i - [)i]
o - [)o]
u - [)u]
Chapter Sidenotes are placed at head of chapter.
Inline Sidenotes are placed as close as possible, and marked [sn: (2 v.)]
....
[Illustration: frontispeiece]
HISTORY
OF
THE PIRATES
WHO
INFESTED THE CHINA SEA,
FROM 1807 TO 1810.
TRANSLATED FROM THE CHINESE ORIGINAL,
WITH
NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS,
BY
CHARLES FRIED. NEUMANN.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR THE ORIENTAL TRANSLATION FUND,
And Sold by
J. MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET;
PARBURY, ALLEN, & CO., LEADENHALL STREET;
THACKER & CO., CALCUTTA; TREUTTEL & WÜRTZ, PARIS;
AND E. FLEISCHER, LEIPSIG.
1831.
LONDON
Printed by J. L. Cox, Great Queen Street,
Lincoln's-Inn Fields
TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE.
Conquerors are deemed successful robbers, while robbers are
unsuccessful conquerors. If the founder of the dynasty of the Ming had
failed in his rebellion against the Moguls, history would have called
him a robber; and if any one of the various robber-chiefs, who in the
course of the two last centuries made war against the reigning
Manchow, had overthrown the government of the foreigners, the official
historiographers of the "_Middle empire_" would have called him _the
far-famed, illustrious elder father_ of the new dynasty.
Robbers or pirates are usually ignorant of the principles concerning
human society. They are not aware that power is derived from the
people for the general advantage, and that when it is abused to a
certain extent, all means of redress resorted to are legitimate. But
they feel most violently the abuse of power. The fruit of labour is
too often taken out of their hands, justice sold for money, and
nothing is safe from their rapacious and luxurious masters. People
arise to oppose, and act according to the philosophical principles of
human society, without having any clear idea about them. Robbers and
pirates are, in fact, the opposition party in the despotical empires
of the East; and their history is far more interesting than that of
the reigning despot.[1] The sameness which is to be observed in the
history of all Asiatic governments, presents a great difficulty to any
historian who wishes to write a history of any nation in Asia for the
general reader.
The history of the transactions between Europeans and the Chinese is
intimately connected with that of the pirate chiefs who appeared from
time to time in the Chinese Sea, or Southern Ocean. The Europeans
themselves, at their first appearance in the _middle empire_, only
became known as pirates. Simon de Andrada, the first Portuguese who
(1521) tried to establish any regular trade with China, committed
violence against the merchants, and bought young Chinese to use them
as slaves; and it is known that it was the policy of the _civilized
foreigners_ from the "Great Western Ocean" (which is the Chinese name
for Europe) to decry their competitors in trade as pirates and
outlaws.
The footing which Europeans and Americans now enjoy in China,
originated from the assistance given by the Portuguese to the Manchow
against the Patriots, otherwise called pirates, who would not submit
to the sway of foreigners. Macao, the only residence (or large prison)
in which foreigners are shut up, is not considered by the Chinese
Government as belonging exclusively to the Portuguese. The Dutch, on
not being allowed to remain in Macao, complained to the Chinese
Government, and the authorities of the middle empire commanded the
Portuguese to grant houses to the newly arrived _Holan_ or Hollander,
"since Macao was to be considered as the abode of _all_ foreigners
trading with China." The edicts concerning this transaction are stated
to be now in the archives of the Dutch factory at Macao.
It is one of the most interesting facts in the history of the Chinese
empire, that the various barbarous tribes, who subdued either the
whole or a part of this singular country, were themselves ultimately
subdued by the peculiar civilization of their subjects. The Kitans,
Moguls, and Manchow, became, in the course of time, Chinese people;
like the Ostro, and Visigoths, and Longobards--Romans. But we may
remark, that both the Chinese and the Roman civilization under the
Emperors recommended itself to the conquerors, as connected with a
despotism which particularly suited the views of the conquerors.
Though this large division of the human race, which we are accustomed
to call _Tatars_, never felt a spark of that liberty which everywhere
animated the various German nations and tribes, and the Khakhans, in
consequence of this, were not in need of any foreign policy to enslave
their compatriots; yet it may be said, that neither Moguls nor Manchow
were able to establish a despotic form of government which worked so
well for a large nation as that of the Chinese.
The extremes of both despotism and democracy acknowledge no
intermediary power or rank. The sovereign is the vice-regent of
heaven, and all in all; he is the only rule of right and wrong, and
commands both what shall be done in this world and thought of
concerning the next. It may be easily imagined, that the Jesuits, on
their first arrival in China, were delighted with such a perfect
specimen of government according to their political sentiments. They
tried all that human power could command to succeed in the conversion
of this worldly paradise. The fathers disguised themselves as
astronomers, watchmakers, painters, musicians, and engineers.[2] They
forged inscriptions[3] and invented miracles, and almost went to the
extent of canonizing Confucius. But this cunning deference to Chinese
customs involved the Jesuits in a dispute with their more pious but
less prudent competitors; and notwithstanding all the cleverness of
the Jesuits, the Chinese saw at last, that in becoming Roman Catholic
Christians they must cease to be Chinese, and obey a foreign sovereign
in the _Great Western Ocean_. Toland affirms, that the Chinese and the
Irish, in the time of their heathen monarch Laogirius, were the only
nations in which religious persecutions never existed;[4] this praise
now refers exclusively to Ireland. Roman Catholicism is at this moment
nearly extinguished in China. To become a Christian is considered
high-treason, and the only Roman Catholic priest at Canton at the
present time, is compelled to hide himself under the mask of
shopkeeper. In their successful times, during the seventeenth century,
the Roman Catholic Missionaries published in Europe, that no nation
was more virtuous, nor any government more enlightened than that of
the Chinese; these false eulogies were the source of that high opinion
in which the Chinese were formerly held in Europe.
The merchants and adventurers who came to China "to make money" found
both the government and people widely different from descriptions
given by the Jesuits. They found that the Chinese officers of
government, commonly called Mandarins, would think themselves defiled
by the least intercourse with foreigners, particularly merchants; and
that the laws are often interpreted quite differently before and after
receiving bribes. The Europeans were proud of their civilization and
cleverness in mercantile transactions, and considered the inhabitants
of all the other parts of the world as barbarians; but they found, to
their astonishment and disappointment, the Chinese still more proud
and cunning. We may easily presume that these deluded merchants became
very irritated, and in their anger they reported to their countrymen
in Europe that the Chinese were the most treacherous and abandoned
people in the world,[5] that "they were only a peculiar race of
savages," and required to be chastised in one way or another; which
would certainly be very easy. Commodore Anson, with a single
weather-beaten sixty-gun ship, in fact, set the whole power of the
Chinese Government at defiance.
The Translator of the History of the Pirates ventures to affirm, that
the Chinese system of government is by far the best that ever existed
in Asia; not excepting any of the different monarchies founded by the
followers of Alexander, the government of the Roman Prætors and of
Byzantine Dukes, or that of Christian Kings and Barons who reigned in
various parts of the East during the middle ages. The principles of
Chinese government are those of virtue and justice; but they are
greatly corrupted by the passions and vices of men. The greater part
of their laws are good and just, though the practice is often bad; but
unfortunately this is generally not known to the "Son of Heaven." It
is the interest of the Emperor to deal out justice to the lowest of
his subjects; but, supposing it were possible that one man could
manage the government of such an immense empire, who either could or
would dare to denounce every vicious or unjust act of the officers
employed by government? The Chinese themselves are a clever shrewd
sort of people; deceit and falsehood are, perhaps, more generally
found in the "flowery empire" than any where else; but take them all
in all, they rank high in the scale of nations, and the generality of
the people seem to be quite satisfied with their government; they may
wish for a change of masters, but certainly not for an entire change
of the system of government.
There has existed for a long period, and still exists, a powerful
party in the Chinese Empire, which is against the dominion of the
Manchow; the different mountainous tribes maintain, even now, in the
interior of China, a certain independence of the Tay tsing dynasty.
The Meao tsze, who were in Canton some years ago, stated, with a
proud feeling, that they were _Ming jin_, people of Ming; the title
of the native sovereigns of China before the conquest of the Manchow.
It is said, that the whole disaffected party is united in a
society--generally called the _Triade-Union_--and that they aimed at
the overthrow of the Tatars, particularly under the weak government of
the late Emperor; but the rebels totally failed in their object both
by sea and land.
It has been falsely reported in Europe, that it is not allowed by the
laws of China to publish the transactions of the reigning dynasty. It
is true that the history written by the official or imperial
historians is not published; but there is no statute which prohibits
other persons from writing the occurrences of their times. It may be
easily imagined that such authors will take especial care not to
state any thing which may be offensive to persons in power. There is,
however, no official court in China to regulate the course of the
human understanding, there is nothing like that tribunal which in the
greater part of the Continent of Europe is called the _Censorship_.
Fear alone is quite sufficient to check the rising spirits of the
liberals in the middle empire. The reader, therefore, should not
expect that either the author of the "History of the Rebellions in the
Interior of China," or the writer of the "Pacification of the
Pirates," would presume to state that persons whom government is
pleased to style robbers and pirates, are in reality enemies of the
present dynasty; neither would they state that government, not being
able to quell these rebellions, are compelled to give large
recompenses to the different chiefs who submit. These facts are
scarcely hinted at in the Chinese histories. The government officers
are usually delineated as the most excellent men in the world. When
they run away, they know before-hand that fighting will avail nothing;
and when they pardon, they are not said to be compelled by necessity,
but it is described as an act of heavenly virtue! From what we learn
by the statements of a Chinese executioner, we should be led to form a
bad opinion of the veracity of these historians, and the heavenly
virtue of their government; for it is said, that one Chinese
executioner beheaded a thousand pirates in one year.[6]
The author of the following work is a certain _Yung lun yuen_, called
_Jang sëen_,[7] a native of the city or market town _Shun tih_, eighty
le southerly from Canton. The great number of proper names, of
persons and places, to be found in the "_History of the Pacification
of the Pirates_," together with the nicknames and thieves' slang
employed by the followers of Ching y[)i]h, presented peculiar
difficulties in the translation of _Yuen's_ publication. The work was
published in November 1830 at Canton; and it is to be regretted, for
the fame of the author in the _Great Western Ocean_, that he used
provincial and abbreviated characters. I will not complain that by so
doing he caused many difficulties to his translator, for a native of
_Shun tih_ would not trouble himself on that point; but I have reason
to believe that the head schoolmaster of Kwang tung will think it an
abomination that Yung lun yuen should dare take such liberties in a
historical composition. Schoolmasters have a greater sway in China
than any where else, and they like not to be trifled with. These are
particularly the men, who, above all others, oppose any innovation or
reform; scholars, who presume to know every thing between heaven and
earth: and they may certainly satisfy every man, who will rest
satisfied by mere words. These learned gentlemen are too much occupied
with their own philosophical and literary disquisitions, to have any
time, or to think it worth their notice, to pay attention to
surrounding empires or nations. If we consider the scanty and foolish
notices which are found in recent Chinese publications regarding those
nations with which the Chinese should be well acquainted, we cannot
but form a very low estimate of the present state of Chinese
literature. How far otherwise are the accounts of foreign nations,
which are to be found in the great work of Matuanlin! It will,
perhaps, be interesting to the European reader to learn, what the
Chinese know and report concerning the nations of _Ta se yang_, or the
_Great Western Ocean_. I therefore take an opportunity here to give
some extracts from a Chinese publication relative to European nations,
printed last year at Canton.
The _fifty-seventh book_ of the _Memoirs concerning the South of the
Mei ling Mountains_, contains a history of all the Southern barbarians
(or foreigners); and here are mentioned--with the _Tanka_ people and
other barbarous tribes of Kwang tung and Kwang se--the _Siamese_, the
_Mahometans_, the _French_, _Dutch_, _English_, _Portuguese_,
_Austrians_, _Prussians_, and _Americans_. The work was published by
the command of Yuen, the ex-Governor-General of Canton, who is
considered one of the principal living literary characters of China,
and it consists chiefly of extracts from the voluminous history of
the province Kwang tung, published by his Excellency:--
_The Religion of the Hwy hwy, or Mahometans._
"This religion is professed by various sorts of barbarians who
live southerly beyond _Chen ching_ (Tséamba, or Zeampa), to the
_Se yu_. Their doctrines originated in the kingdom of _Me tih
no_ (Medina). They say that heaven is the origin of all things;
they do not use any images. Their country is close to Tëen choo
(India); their customs are quite different from those of the
Buddhists; they kill living creatures, but they do not eat
indiscriminately all that is killed; they eat not hog's flesh,
and this is the essence of the doctrine of Hwy hwy. They have
now a foreign pagoda (_fan t[)a]_), near the temple of the
compassionate saint (in Canton), which exists since the time of
the Tang. It is of a spiral form, and 163 cubits high.[8] They
go every day therein to say prayers."
By the kindness of Dr. Morrison, the translator had the pleasure to
converse with a member of the Mahometan clergy at Canton. He stated,
that in the Mosque at Canton is a tablet, whereon it is written, that
the religion of the Prophet of Mecca was brought to China, _Tang ching
yuen san nëen_, that is, in the third year of the period called _Ching
yuen_, under the Tang dynasty, _i.e._ 787 of our era.[9] The compilers
of the _Memoirs_, &c. have taken their extract from the historical
work of _Ho_ (4051, M.); they seem not to have any knowledge of
Matuanlin, where the Arabs are spoken of under the name of _Ta she_.
See the notes to my translation of the Chronicle of Vahram, p. 76.
During the time the translator was at Canton, there arrived a pilgrim
from Pekin on his way to Mecca.
_The Fa lan se, Francs and Frenchmen._
"The _Fa lan se_ are also called _Fo lang se_, and now _Fo lang
ke_. In the beginning they adopted the religion of Buddha, but
afterwards they received the religion of the _Lord of Heaven_.
They are assembled together and stay in _Leu song_ (Spain?);
they strive now very hard with the _Hung maou or red-haired
people_ (the _Dutch_), and the _Ying keih le_ (_English_); but
the _Fa lan se_ have rather the worst of it. These foreigners,
or barbarians (_e jin_) wear white caps and black woollen hats;
they salute one another by taking off the hat. Regarding their
garments and eating and drinking, they have the same customs as
the people of Great _Leu song_ and Small _Leu song_ (_Spain_
and _Manilla_)."
This extract is taken from the _Hwang tsing ch[)i]h kung too_, or the
_Register of the Tribute as recorded under the present dynasty_
(_Memoirs_, l. c. p. 10 v., p. 11 r.). I am not sure if _Ke tsew_
(10,869) _keu_ (6,063) _Leu song_, can really be translated by the
words--_they are assembled together and stay in Leu song_. The use of
_tsew_ in the place of _tseu_ (10,826) is confirmed by the authorities
in Kang he; but does Leu song really mean Spain? The Philippinas are
called Leu song (Luzon), from the island whereon Manilla is, and in
opposition to Spain (_Ta Leu song, the great L. s._), _Seao Leu song_,
_the small Leu song_. It may be doubted whether _Leu song_ without
_Ta_, _great_, can be taken for Spain. The Chinese have moreover
learned from Matthæus Ricci the proper name of Spain, and write it
_She pan ya_. The Dutch, the English, and the Germans, are, from a
reddish colour of their hair, called _Hung maou_. This peculiar colour
of the hair found among people of German origin, is often spoken of by
the ancient Roman authors; as for instance in Tacitus, Germania, c.
4. Juvenal says, Sat. XIII. v. 164,
Cærula quis stupuit Germani lumina? _flavam
Cæsariem_, et madido torquentem cornua cirro?
It would carry us too far at present to translate the statements of
the Chinese concerning the Portuguese and Dutch. Under the head of _Se
yang_, or Portugal, may be read an extract of the account of Europe
(Gow lo pa) the Chinese received by Paulus Matthæus Ricci (_Le ma
paou_). The Chinese know that the European Universities are divided
into four faculties; and his Excellency Yuen is aware of the great
similarity between the ceremonies of the Buddhists and those of the
Roman Catholic church (l. c. 17 v). The present Translator of the
"History of the Pirates" intends to translate the whole of the 57th
book of the often-quoted Memoirs, and to subjoin copious extracts of
other works, particularly from the _Hae kw[)o] hëen këen l[)u]h_, or
"Memoirs concerning the Empires surrounded by the Ocean." This very
interesting small work is divided into two books; one containing the
text, and the other the maps. The text consists of eight chapters,
including a description of the sea-coast of China, with a map,
constructed on a large scale, of the nations to the east, the
south-east, and the south; then follows a topography of Portugal and
Europe generally. Concerning England we find:--
_The Kingdom of the Ying keih le, or English._
"The kingdom of the _Ying keih le_ is a dependent or tributary
state[10] to _Ho lan_ (Holland). Their garments and manners in
eating and drinking are the same. This kingdom is rather rich.
The males use much cloth and like to drink wine. The females,
before marriage, bind the waist, being desirous to look
slender; their hair hangs in curls over the neck; they use a
short garment and petticoats, but dress in a larger cloth when
they go out. They take snuff out of boxes made from gold and
threads."
This extract is taken from the "_Register of the Tribute as recorded
under the present dynasty_."
"_Ying keih le_ is a kingdom composed of three islands: it is
in the middle of four kingdoms, called _Lin yin_:[11] _Hwang
ke_, the _yellow flag_ (Denmark), _Ho lan_, and _Fo lang se_.
The _Great Western Ocean_ (Europe) worships the Lord of Heaven;
and there are, firstly, _She pan ya_ (Spain), _Poo ke[)u]h ya_
(Portugal), the _yellow flag_, &c.; but there are too many
kingdoms to nominate them one by one. Ying keih le is a kingdom
which produces silver, woollen cloths,[12] camlets, _peih ke_,
or English cloth, called long ells,[13] glass, and other things
of this kind."
This extract is taken from the _Hae kw[)o] hëen këen l[)u]h_, book i.
p. 34 v. 35 r; and I am sorry to see that in the "Memoirs" it is
abbreviated in such a manner that the sense is materially changed.
"_Ying keih le_," says the author of the _Hae kwo hëen këen
l[)u]h_ (l. c.), "is a realm composed out of three islands. To
the west and the north of the four kingdoms of _Lin yin_, the
_Yellow flag_, _Holan_, and _Fo lang se_, is the ocean. From
Lin yin the ocean takes its direction to the east, and
surrounds _Go lo sse_ (Russia); and from Go lo sse, yet more to
the east, _Se me le_ (Siberia?). Through the northern sea you
cannot sail; the sea is frozen, and does not thaw, and for this
reason it is called the _Frozen Ocean_. From Lin yin, to the
south, are the various empires of the _Woo_ and _Kwei_ (_Crows_
and _Demons_), and they all belong to _the red-haired people_
of the _Great Western Ocean_. On the west and on the north
there are different barbarians under various names;
* * * * *
but they are, in one word, similar to the Go lo sse (Russians),
who stay in the metropolis (Pekin). It is said that the _Kaou
chun peih mow_ (?) are similar to the inhabitants of the
_Middle Empire_; they are of a vigorous body and an ingenious
mind. All that they produce is fine and strong; their
attention is directed to making fire-arms. They make researches
in astronomy and geography, and generally they do not marry.
Every kingdom has a particular language, and they greet one
another by taking off the hat. They worship," &c. (The same as
p. xxx.)
My copy of the _Hae kw[)o] hëen këen l[)u]h_ was printed in the
province _Che keang_, in the year 1794.
"In the narrative regarding foreign countries, and forming part
of the history of the Ming, the English are called _Yen go le_;
in the _Hae kw[)o] hëen këen l[)u]h_, Ying ke le (5272, 6950);
but in the maps the name is now always written _Ying keih le_
(5018, 6947). In expressing the sound of words we sometimes use
different characters. This kingdom lies to the west of _Gow lo
pa_ (Europa), and was originally a tributary state to Ho lan
(Holland); but in the course of time it became richer and more
powerful than _Ho lan_, and revolted. These kingdoms are,
therefore, enemies. It is not known at what time the Ying keih
le grasped the country of North _O m[)o] le kea_ (America),
which is called _Kea no_ (Canada). Great _Ying keih le_ is a
kingdom of Gow lo pa (Europe.)[14] In the twelfth year of _Yung
ching_ (1735), they came the first time to Canton for trade.
Their country produces wheat, with which they trade to all the
neighboring countries. They are generally called _Keang he[)o]_
(that is, English ships from India, or country ships), and
there arrive many vessels."
This extract is taken from the _Tan chay hëen këen l[)u]h_, and it is
all that we find regarding England in the Memoirs concerning the south
of the Mei ling Mountains (p. 18 r. v.). In the latter extract, the
author appears to confound the country trade of India and China with
that of the mother country. England is again mentioned in the notice
regarding Me le keih (America), taken out of Yuen's History of Canton.
It is there said, that the Me le keih passed, in the 52d year of Këen
lung (1788), the Bocca Tigris, and that they then separated from the
Ying keih le (p. 19 r.) At the end of the extract concerning the
Americans (p. 190) we read the following words:
"The characters which are used in the writings of these realms
are, according to the statements of _Ma lo ko_, _twenty-six_;
all sounds can be sufficiently expressed by these characters.
Every realm has large and small characters; they are called _La
ting_ characters, and _La te na_ (Latin) characters."
It is pleasing to observe that his Excellency Yuen had some knowledge
of Dr. Morrison's Dictionary. In the third part of his Dictionary, Dr.
Morrison has given, in Chinese, a short and clear notice concerning
the European alphabet. Yuen seems to have taken his statements from
this notice, and to have written the name of the author, by a mistake,
_Ma lo ko_, for _Ma le so_, as Dr. Morrison is generally called by the
Chinese.
_The Man ying, the Double Eagle, or
Austrians._
"The _Man ying_ passed the Bocca Tigris the first time in the
45th year of Këen lung (1781), and are called _Ta chen_
(_Teutchen_). They have accepted the religion of the Lord of
Heaven. In customs and manners they are similar to the Se yang,
or Portuguese; they are the brethren of the Tan ying, or
_Single eagle kingdom_ (Prussia); in difficulties and distress
they help one another. Their ships which came to Canton had a
white flag, on which an eagle was painted with two heads."
This extract is taken from the History of _Yuen_. I take the liberty
to observe, that the Chinese scholar must be careful not to take the
_Sui chen_, or _Chen kw[)o]_ (the Swedes), for the _Ta chen_ (the
_Teutchen_). In the _Memoirs_, l. c. p. 19 v., we read the following
notice on the _Chen kw[)o]_ (the Swedes):
"The _Chen_ realm is also called _Tan_ (Denmark) realm, and now
the _yellow flag_. This country is opposite to that of the _Ho
lan_, and a little farther off from the sea. There are two
realms called _Sui chen_, and they border both on the _Go lo
sse_, or Russia. They passed the Bocca Tigris the first year of
Këen lung (1765)."
_The Tan ying, the Single Eagle or Prussians._
"The Tan ying passed the Bocca Tigris the 52d year of Këen lung
(1788.) They live to the west and north of the Man ying
(Austrians). In customs and manners they are similar to them.
On their ships flies a white flag, on which an eagle is
painted."
This last extract is also taken from the History of Canton, published
by his Excellency Yuen.
If we consider how easily the Chinese could procure information
regarding foreign countries during the course of the two last
centuries, and then see how shamefully they let pass all such
opportunities to inform and improve themselves, we can only look upon
these proud slaves of hereditary customs with the utmost disgust and
contempt. The ancient Britons and Germans had no books; yet what
perfect descriptions of those barbarian nations have been handed down
to us by the immortal genius of Tacitus! Montesquieu says, that "in
Cæsar and Tacitus we read the code of barbarian laws; and in the code
we read Cæsar and Tacitus." In the statement of the modern Chinese
regarding foreign nations, we see, on the contrary, both the want of
enquiry, and the childish remarks of unenlightened and uncultivated
minds.[15]
YING HING SOO's PREFACE.
In the summer of the year _Ke sze_ (1809),[16] I returned from the
capital, and having passed the chain of mountains,[17] I learned the
extraordinary disturbances caused by the _Pirates_. When I came home I
saw with mine own eyes all the calamities; four villages were totally
destroyed; the inhabitants collected together and made preparations
for resistance. Fighting at last ceased on seas and rivers: families
and villages rejoiced, and peace was every where restored. Hearing of
our naval transactions, every man desired to have them written down in
a history; but people have, until this day, looked in vain for such a
work.
Meeting once, at a public inn in Whampo,[18] with one _Yuen tsze_, we
conversed together, when he took a volume in his hand, and asked me to
read it. On opening the work, I saw that it contained a _History of
the Pirates_; and reading it to the end, I found that the occurrences
of those times were therein recorded from day to day, and that our
naval transactions are there faithfully reported. Yuen tsze supplied
the defect I stated before, and anticipated what had occupied my mind
for a long time. The affairs concerning the robber _Lin_ are described
by the non-official historian _Lan e_, in his _Tsing y[)i]h ke_, viz.
in the _History of the Pacification of the Robbers_.[19] Respectfully
looking to the commands of heaven, _Lan e_ made known, for all future
times, the faithful and devoted servants of government. Yuen tsze's
work is a supplement to the History of the Pacification of the
Robbers, and you may rely on whatever therein is reported, whether it
be of great or little consequence. Yuen tsze has overlooked nothing;
and I dare to say, that all people will rejoice at the publication.
Having written these introductory lines to the said work, I returned
it to Yuen tsze.[20]
Written at the time of the fifth summer moon, the tenth year of Tao
kwang, called K[)a]ng yin (September 1830).
A respectful Preface of _Ying hing Soo_, from _Peih keang_.
KING CHUNG HO's[21] PREFACE.
My house being near the sea, we were, during the year _Ke sze_ of Këa
king (1809), disturbed by the Pirates. The whole coast adjoining to
our town was in confusion, and the inhabitants dispersed; this lasting
for a long time, every man felt annoyed at it. In the year _K[)a]ng
yin_ (1830) I met with _Yuen tsze yung lun_ at a public inn within the
walls of the provincial metropolis (Canton). He showed me his
_History of the Pacification of the Pirates_, and asked me to write a
Preface to the work; having been a schoolfellow of his in my tender
age, I could not refuse his request. Opening and reading the volume, I
was moved with recollections of occurrences in former days, and I was
pleased with the diligence and industry of _Yuen keun_[22] The author
was so careful to combine what he had seen and heard, that I venture
to say it is an historical work on which you may rely.
We have the collections of former historians, who in a fine style
described things as they happened, that by such faithful accounts the
world might be governed, and the minds of men enlightened. People may
learn by these vast collections[23] what should be done, and what not.
It is, therefore, desirable that facts may be arranged in such a
manner, that books should give a faithful account of what happened.
There are magistrates who risk their life, excellent females who
maintain their virtue, and celebrated individuals who protect their
native places with a strong hand; they behave themselves valiantly,
and overlook private considerations, if the subject concerns the
welfare of the people at large. Without darkness, there is no light;
without virtue, there is no splendour. In the course of time we have
heard of many persons of such qualities; but how few books exist by
which the authors benefit their age!
This is the Preface respectfully written by _King chung ho_, called
_Sin joo min_,[24] at the time of the second decade, the first month
of the autumn, the year _K[)a]ng yin_ (September 1830) of Tao
kwang.[25]
THE
HISTORY
OF
THE CHINESE PIRATES.
BOOK FIRST.
[sd: (1 r.)] There have been pirates from the oldest times in the
eastern sea of Canton; they arose and disappeared alternately, but never
were they so formidable as in the years of Këa king,[26] at which time,
being closely united together, it was indeed very difficult to destroy
them. Their origin must be sought for in Annam.[27] [sd: (1 v.)] In the
year fifty-six of Këen lung (1792), a certain Kwang ping yuen, joined by
his two brothers, Kwang e and Kwang kw[)o], took Annam by force, and
expelled its legitimate king Wei ke le.[28] Le retired into the province
Kwang se, and was made a general by our government. But his younger
brother Fuh ying came in the sixth year of Këa king (1802) with an army
from Siam and Laos,[29] and killed Kwang ping in a great battle. The son
of the usurper, called King shing, went on board a ship with the
minister Yew kin meih, and Meih joined the pirates, Ching tsih, Tung hae
pa, and others, who rambled about these seas at this time. The pirate
Ching tsih was appointed a king's officer, under the name of _master of
the stables_. [sd: (2 r.)] King shing, relying on the force of his new
allies, which consisted of about two hundred vessels, manned with a
resolute and warlike people, returned in the twelfth moon of the same
year (1803) into that country with an armed force, and joined by Ching
tsih, at night time took possession of the bay of Annam. The legitimate
king Fuh ying collected an army, but being beaten repeatedly, he tried
in vain to retire to Laos.
Ching tsih being a man who had lived all his life on the water, behaved
himself, as soon as he got possession of the bay of Annam, in a
tyrannical way to the inhabitants; he took what he liked, and, to say it
in one word, his will alone was law. His followers conducted themselves
in the same manner; trusting to their power and strength, they were
cruel and violent against the people; they divided the whole population
among themselves, and took their wives and daughters by force. The
inhabitants felt very much annoyed at this behaviour, and attached
themselves more strongly to Fuh ying. [sd: (2 v.)] They fixed a day on
which some of the king's officers should make an attack on the
sea-side, while the king himself with his general was to fight the van
of the enemy, the people to rise _en masse_, and to run to arms, in
order that they should be overwhelming by their numbers. Fuh ying was
delighted at these tidings, and on the appointed day a great battle was
fought, in which Ching tsih not being able to superintend all from the
rear-guard to the van, and the people pressing besides very hard towards
the centre, he was totally vanquished and his army destroyed. He himself
died of a wound which he received in the battle. His younger brother
Ching y[)i]h, the usurper, King shing, and his nephew Pang shang, with
many others ran away. Ching y[)i]h, their chief, joined the pirates with
his followers, who in these times robbed and plundered on the ocean
indiscriminately. This was a very prosperous period for the pirates. So
long as Wang pëaou remained admiral in these seas, all was peace and
quietness both on the ocean and the sea-shore. [sd: (3 r.)] The admiral
gained repeated victories over the bandits; but as soon as Wang pëaou
died, the pirates divided themselves into different squadrons, which
sailed under various colours. There existed six large squadrons, under
different flags, the _red_, the _yellow_, the _green_, the _blue_, the
_black_, and the _white_. These wasps of the ocean were called after
their different commanders, _Ching y[)i]h_, _Woo che tsing_, _Meih yew
kin_, _O po tai_, _Lëang paou_, and _Le shang tsing_. To every one of
these large squadrons belonged smaller ones, commanded by a deputy. Woo
che tsing, whose nick-name was _Tung hae pa_, the _Scourge of the
Eastern Sea_,[30] was commander of the _yellow_ flag, and Le tsung hoo
his deputy. Meih yew kin and Nëaou shih, who for this reason was called
_Bird_ and _stone_, were the commanders of the _blue_ flag, and their
deputies Meih's brethren, Yew kwei and Yew këe. [sd: (3 v.)] A certain
Hae kang and another person Hwang ho, were employed as spies. O po tai,
who afterwards changed his name to _Lustre of instruction_,[31] was the
commander of the _black_ flag, and Ping yung ta, Chang jih këaou, and O
tsew he, were his deputies. Lëang paou, nicknamed Tsung ping paou, The
_jewel of the whole crew_, was the commander of the _white_ flag. Le
shang tsing, nicknamed _The frog's meal_, was the commander of the
_green_; and Ching y[)i]h of the _red_ flag. Every flag was appointed to
cruise in a particular channel. There was at this time a gang of robbers
in the province Fo këen, known by the name of Kwei këen (6760, 5822);
they also joined the pirates, who became so numerous that it was
impossible to master them. We must in particular mention a certain
_Chang paou_, a notorious character in after-times. Under Chang paou
were other smaller squadrons, commanded by Suh ke lan (nicknamed _Both
odour and mountain_) Lëang po paou, Suh puh gow, and others. Chang paou
himself belonged to the squadron of Ching y[)i]h saou, or the _wife of
Ching y[)i]h_,[32] so that the red flag alone was stronger than all the
others united together.
[sd: (4 r.)] There are three water passages or channels along the
sea-shore, south of the Mei ling mountains;[33] one goes eastward to
_Hwy_ and _Chaou_[34]; the other westward to _Kao_, _Lëen_, _Luy_,
_Këung_, _Kin_, _Tan_, _Yae_ and _Wan_;[35] and a third between these
two, to _Kwang_ and _Chow_.[36] The ocean surrounds these passages, and
here trading vessels from all the world meet together, wherefore this
track is called "_The great meeting from the east and the south_." The
piratical squadrons dividing between them the water passages and the
adjoining coasts, robbed and carried away all that fell into their
hands. [sd: (4 v.)] Both the eastern and the middle passage have been
retained by the three piratical squadrons, Ching y[)i]h saou, O po tae,
and Leang paou; the western passage was under the three others,
nicknamed _Bird and stone_, _Frog's meal_, and the _Scourge of the
eastern sea_. Peace and quietness was not known by the inhabitants of
the sea-coast for a period of ten years. On the side from _Wei chow_ and
_Neaou chow_[37] farther on to the sea, the passage was totally cut off;
scarcely any man came hither. In this direction is a small island,
surrounded on all sides by high mountains, where in stormy weather a
hundred vessels find a safe anchorage; here the pirates retired when
they could not commit any robberies. This land contains fine paddy
fields, and abounds in all kinds of animals, flowers, and fruits. This
island was the lurking-place of the robbers, where they stayed and
prepared all the stores for their shipping.
[Sidenote: 1807.]
[sd: (5 r.)] Chang paou was a native of Sin hwy, near the mouth of the
river,[38] and the son of a fisherman. Being fifteen years of age, he
went with his father a fishing in the sea, and they were consequently
taken prisoners by Ching y[)i]h, who roamed about the mouth of the
river, ravaging and plundering. Ching y[)i]h saw Paou, and liked him so
much, that he could not depart from him. [sd: (5 v.)] Paou was indeed a
clever fellow--he managed all business very well; being also a fine
young man, he became a favourite of Ching y[)i]h,[39] and was made a
head-man or captain. [sd: (5 v.)] It happened, that on the seventeenth
day of the tenth moon, in the twentieth year of Këa king (about the end
of 1807), Ching y[)i]h perished in a heavy gale, and his legitimate wife
_Sh[)i]h_ placed the whole crew under the sway of Paou; but so that she
herself should be considered the Commander of all the squadrons
together,--for this reason the division Ching y[)i]h was then called
_Ching y[)i]h saou_, or _the wife of Ching y[)i]h_.[40] Being chief
captain, Paou robbed and plundered incessantly, and daily increased his
men and his vessels. He made the three following regulations:--
First:
_If any man goes privately on shore, or what is called
transgressing the bars, he shall be taken and his ears be
perforated in the presence of the whole fleet; repeating the
same act, he shall suffer death._
Second:
[Sidenote: 1807.]
_Not the least thing shall be taken privately from the stolen
and plundered goods. All shall be registered, and the pirate
receive for himself, out of_ _ten parts, only two; eight parts
belong to the storehouse, called the general fund; taking any
thing out of this general fund, without permission, shall be
death._
Third:
[sd: (6 r.)] _No person shall debauch at his pleasure captive women
taken in the villages and open places, and brought on board a
ship; he must first request the ship's purser for permission, and
then go aside in the ship's hold. To use violence against any woman,
or to wed her without permission, shall be punished with death._[41]
[Sidenote: 1807.]
That the pirates might never feel want of provisions, Chang paou
gained the country people to their interest. It was ordered, that
wine, rice, and all other goods, should be paid for to the villagers;
it was made capital punishment to take any thing of this kind by force
or without paying for it. For this reason the pirates were never in
want of gunpowder, provisions, and all other necessaries. By this
strong discipline the whole crew of the fleet was kept in order.
The wife of Ching y[)i]h was very strict in every transaction; nothing
could be done without a written application. Anything which had been
taken, or plundered, was regularly entered on the register of the
storehouse. [sd: (6 v.)] The pirates received out of this common fund
what they were in need of, and nobody dared to have private possessions.
If on a piratical expedition any man left the line of battle, whether by
advancing or receding, every pirate might accuse him at a general
meeting, and on being found guilty, he was beheaded. Knowing how
watchful Chang paou was on every side, the pirates took great care to
behave themselves well.
The pirates used to call the purser, or secretary of the storehouse,
_Ink and writing master_; and they called their piratical plunder only
_a transhipping of goods_.
[Sidenote: 1807.]
There was a temple in _Hwy chow_ dedicated to the _spirits of the three
mothers_,[42] near the sea-coast, and many came thither to worship. The
pirates visited this place whenever they passed it with their vessels,
pretending to worship; but this was not the case--they thought of
mischief, and had only their business to attend. Once they came with the
commander at their head, as if to worship, but they laid hold on the
image or statue to take it away. [sd: (7 r.)] They tried in vain from
morning to the evening,--they were all together not able to move it.
Chang paou alone[43] was able to raise the image, and being a fair wind,
he gave order to bring it on board a ship. All who were concerned in
this transaction feared to find, from the wrath of the spirit, their
death in the piratical expeditions. They all prayed to escape the
vengeance of heaven.
[Sidenote: 1808.]
On the seventh moon of the thirteenth year, the naval officer of the
garrison at the Bocca Tigris,[44] Kw[)o] lang lin, sailed into the sea
to fight the pirates.[45] Chang paou was informed by his spies of this
officer's arrival, and prepared an ambush in a sequestered bay. [sd: (7
v.)] He met Kw[)o] lang on a false attack, with a few vessels only; but
twenty-five vessels came from behind, and the pirates surrounded Kw[)o]
lang's squadron in three lines near Ma chow yang.[46] There followed a
fierce battle, which lasted from the morning to the evening; it was
impossible for Kw[)o] lang to break through the enemy's lines, and he
determined to die fighting. Paou advanced; but Lang fought exceedingly
hard against him. He loaded a gun and fired it at Paou, who perceiving
the gun directed against him, gave way. Seeing this, the people thought
he was wounded and dying; but as soon as the smoke vanished Paou stood
again firm and upright, so that all thought he was a spirit. The pirates
instantly grappled Kw[)o] lang's ship; Paou was the foremost, and Leang
po paou the first to mount the vessel; he killed the helmsman, and took
the ship. The pirates crowded about; the commander Kw[)o] lang engaging
with small arms, much blood was shed. [sd: (8 r.)] This murderous
battle lasted till night time; the bodies of the dead surrounded the
vessels on all sides, and there perished an immense number of the
pirates. Between three and five o'clock the pirates had destroyed or
sunk three of our vessels. The other officers of Kw[)o] being afraid
that they also might perish in the sea, displayed not all their
strength; so it happened that the pirates making a sudden attack,
captured the whole remaining fifteen vessels. Paou wished very much that
Kw[)o] lang would surrender, but Lang becoming desperate, suddenly
seized the pirate by the hair, and grinned at him. The pirate spoke
kindly to him, and tried to soothe him. Lang, seeing himself deceived in
his expectation, and that he could not attain death by such means,
committed suicide,--being then a man of seventy years of age. Paou had
really no intention to put Kw[)o] lang to death, and he was exceedingly
sorry at what happened. [sd: (8 v.)] "We others," said Paou, "are like
vapours dispersed by the wind; we are like the waves of the sea, roused
up by a whirlwind; like broken bamboo-sticks on the sea, we are floating
and sinking alternately, without enjoying any rest. Our success in this
fierce battle will, after a short time, bring the united strength of
government on our neck. If they pursue us in the different windings and
bays of the sea--they have maps of them[47]--should we not get plenty to
do? Who will believe that it happened not by my command, and that I am
innocent of the death of this officer? Every man will charge me with the
wanton murder of a commander, after he had been vanquished and his ships
taken? And they who have escaped will magnify my cruelty.[48] [sd: (9
r.)] If I am charged with the murder of this officer, how could I
venture, if I should wish in future times, to submit myself? Would I not
be treated according to the supposed cruel death of Kw[)o] lang?"
[Sidenote: 1808.]
At the time that Kw[)o] lang was fighting very bravely, about ten
fisher-boats asked of the major Pang noo of the town Hëang shan,[49] to
lend them the large guns, to assist the commander; but the major being
afraid these fishermen might join the pirates,[50] refused their
request. And thus it happened, that the commander himself perished with
many others. There were in the battle three of my friends: the
lieutenant Tao tsae lin, Tse[)o] tang hoo, and Ying tang hwang, serving
under the former. Lin and Hoo were killed, but Hwang escaped when all
was surrounded with smoke, and he it was who told me the whole affair.
[Sidenote: 1808.]
On the eighth moon the general Lin fa went out as commander to make war
against the pirates; but on seeing that they were so numerous, he became
afraid, and all the other officers felt apprehensions; he therefore
tried to retire, but the pirates pursued after, and came up with him
near a place called Olang pae.[51] [sd: (9 v.)] The vessels in the
front attacked the pirates, who were not able to move, for there
happened to be a calm. But the pirates leaped into the water, and came
swimming towards our vessels. Our commander not being able to prevent
this by force, six vessels were taken; and he himself, with ten other
men, were killed by the pirates.
[Sidenote: 1808.]
A very large trading vessel called Teaou fa, coming back laden with
goods from Annam and Tung king,[52] had a desperate skirmish with the
pirates. Chang paou, knowing very well that he could not take her by
force, captured two ferry boats, and the pirates concealed themselves
therein. [sd: (10 r.)] Under the mask of ferrymen the pirates pursued
after, and called upon Teaou fa to stop. Fa, confident in her strength,
and that victory would be on her side, let the ferrymen come near, as if
she had not been aware of the deceit. But as soon as the pirates laid
hold of the ropes to board her, the trader's crew made a vigorous
resistance, and the pirates could not avail themselves of their knives
and arrows--guns they had not--the vessel being too large. There were
killed about ten hands in attacking this vessel, and the pirates retired
to their boat; a circumstance which never happened before.
[Sidenote: 1809.]