fleet of Mandarin vessels standing for the bay. On nearing us, they
formed a line, and stood close in; each vessel, as she discharged her
guns, tacked to join the rear and reload. They kept up a constant fire
for about two hours, when one of their largest vessels was blown up by a
firebrand thrown from a Ladrone junk; after which they kept at a more
respectful distance, but continued firing without intermission till the
21st at night, when it fell calm. The Ladrones towed out seven large
vessels, with about two hundred row-boats to board them: but a breeze
springing up, they made sail and escaped. The Ladrones returned into the
bay, and anchored. The Portuguese and Mandarins followed, and continued
a heavy cannonading during that night and the next day. The vessel I was
in had her foremast shot away, which they supplied very expeditiously by
taking a mainmast from a smaller vessel.
"On the 23d, in the evening, it again fell calm; the Ladrones towed out
fifteen junks in two divisions, with the intention of surrounding them,
which was nearly effected, having come up with and boarded one, when a
breeze suddenly sprang up. The captured vessel mounted twenty-two guns.
Most of her crew leaped overboard; sixty or seventy were taken,
immediately cut to pieces, and thrown into the river. Early in the
morning the Ladrones returned into the bay, and anchored in the same
situation as before. The Portuguese and Mandarins followed, keeping up a
constant fire. The Ladrones never returned a single shot, but always
kept in readiness to board, and the Portuguese were careful never to
allow them an opportunity.
"On the 28th, at night they sent eight fire-vessels, which, if properly
constructed, must have done great execution, having every advantage they
could wish for to effect their purpose; a strong breeze and tide
directed into the bay, and the vessels lying so close together, that it
was impossible to miss them. On their first appearance, the Ladrones
gave a general shout, supposing them to be Mandarin vessels on fire, but
were very soon convinced of their mistake. They came very regularly into
the centre of the fleet, two and two, burning furiously; one of them
came alongside of the vessel I was in, but they succeeded in booming her
off. She appeared to be a vessel of about thirty tons; her hold was
filled with straw and wood, and there were a few small boxes of
combustibles on her deck, which exploded alongside of us without doing
any damage. The Ladrones, however, towed them all on shore, extinguished
the fire, and broke them up for firewood. The Portuguese claim the
credit of constructing these destructive machines, and actually sent a
despatch to the Governor of Macao, saying they had destroyed at least
one-third of the Ladrone's fleet, and hoped soon to effect their purpose
by totally annihilating them!
"On the 29th of November, the Ladrones being all ready for sea, they
weighed and stood boldly out, bidding defiance to the invincible
squadron and imperial fleet, consisting of ninety-three war-junks, six
Portuguese ships, a brig, and a schooner. Immediately after the Ladrones
weighed, they made all sail. The Ladrones chased them two or three
hours, keeping up a constant fire; finding they did not come up with
them, they hauled their wind, and stood to the eastward. Thus terminated
the boasted blockade, which lasted nine days, during which time the
Ladrones completed all their repairs. In this action not a single
Ladrone vessel was destroyed, and their loss was about thirty or forty
men. An American was also killed, one of three that remained out of
eight taken in a schooner. I had two very narrow escapes: the first, a
twelve pounder shot fell within three or four feet of me; another took a
piece out of a small brass-swivel on which I was standing. The chief's
wife frequently sprinkled me with garlick-water, which they considered
an effectual charm against shot. The fleet continued under sail all
night, steering towards the eastward. In the morning they anchored in a
large bay surrounded by lofty and barren mountains. On the 2d of
December I received a letter from Lieutenant Maughn, commander of the
Honorable Company's cruiser Antelope, saying that he had the ransom on
board, and had been three days cruising after us, and wished me to
settle with the chief on the securest method of delivering it. The chief
agreed to send us in a small gun-boat till we came within sight of the
Antelope; then the compradore's boat was to bring the ransom and receive
us. I was so agitated at receiving this joyful news, that it was with
difficulty I could scrawl about two or three lines to inform Lieutenant
Maughn of the arrangements I had made. We were all so deeply affected by
the gratifying tidings, that we seldom closed our eyes, but continued
watching day and night for the boat.
"On the 6th she returned with Lieutenant Maughn's answer, saying, he
would respect any single boat; but would not allow the fleet to approach
him. The chief, then, according to his first proposal, ordered a
gun-boat to take us, and with no small degree of pleasure we left the
Ladrone fleet about four o'clock in the afternoon. At one P.M. saw the
Antelope under all sail, standing towards us. The Ladrone boat
immediately anchored, and dispatched the compradore's boat for the
ransom, saying, that if she approached nearer they would return to the
fleet; and they were just weighing when she shortened sail, and anchored
about two miles from us. The boat did not reach her till late in the
afternoon, owing to the tide's being strong against her. She received
the ransom and left the Antelope just before dark. A Mandarin boat that
had been lying concealed under the land, and watching their manoeuvres,
gave chace to her, and was within a few fathoms of taking her, when she
saw a light, which the Ladrones answered, and the Mandarin hauled off.
Our situation was now a critical one; the ransom was in the hands of the
Ladrones, and the compradore dare not return with us for fear of a
second attack from the Mandarin boat. The Ladrones would not wait till
morning, so we were obliged to return with them to the fleet. In the
morning the chief inspected the ransom, which consisted of the following
articles: two bales of superfine cloth; two chests of opium; two casks
of gunpowder, and a telescope; the rest in dollars. He objected to the
telescope not being new; and said he should detain one of us till
another was sent, or a hundred dollars in lieu of it. The compradore,
however, agreed with him for the hundred dollars. Every thing being at
length settled, the chief ordered two gun-boats to convey us near the
Antelope; we saw her just before dusk, when the Ladrone boats left us.
We had the inexpressible pleasure of arriving on board the Antelope at
seven, P.M., where we were most cordially received, and heartily
congratulated on our safe and happy deliverance from a miserable
captivity, which we had endured for eleven weeks and three days.
(Signed) "RICHARD GLASSPOOLE. _China, December 8th_. 1809."
"The Ladrones have no settled residence on shore, but live constantly in
their vessels. The after-part is appropriated to the captain and his
wives; he generally has five or six. With respect to the conjugal rights
they are religiously strict; no person is allowed to have a woman on
board, unless married to her according to their laws. Every man is
allowed a small berth, about four feet square, where he stows with his
wife and family. From the number of souls crowded in so small a space,
it must naturally be supposed they are horridly dirty, which is
evidently the case, and their vessels swarm with all kinds of vermin.
Rats in particular, which they encourage to breed, and eat as great
delicacies; in fact, there are very few creatures they will not eat.
During our captivity we lived three weeks on caterpillars boiled with
rice. They are much addicted to gambling, and spend all their leisure
hours at cards and smoking opium."
[Illustration: _The War Junks of the Ladrones._]
At the time of Mr. Glasspoole's liberation, the pirates were at the
height of their power; after such repeated victories over the Mandarin
ships, they had set at nought the Imperial allies--the Portuguese, and
not only the coast, but the rivers of the celestial empire seemed to be
at their discretion--and yet their formidable association did not many
months survive this event. It was not, however, defeat that reduced it
to the obedience of the laws. On the contrary, that extraordinary woman,
the widow of Ching-yih, and the daring Paou, were victorious and more
powerful than ever, when dissensions broke out among the pirates
themselves. Ever since the favor of the chieftainess had elevated Paou
to the general command, there had been enmity and altercations between
him and the chief O-po-tae, who commanded one of the flags or divisions
of the fleet; and it was only by the deference and respect they both
owed to Ching-yih's widow, that they had been prevented from turning
their arms against each other long before.
At length, when the brave Paou was surprised and cooped up by a strong
blockading force of the Emperor's ships, O-po-tae showed all his deadly
spite, and refused to obey the orders of Paou, and even of the
chieftainess, which were, that he should sail to the relief of his
rival.
Paou, with his bravery and usual good fortune, broke through the
blockade, but when he came in contact with O-po-tae, his rage was too
violent to be restrained.
O-po-tae at first pleaded that his means and strength had been
insufficient to do what had been expected of him, but concluded by
saying,--"Am I bound to come and join the forces of Paou?"
"Would you then separate from us!" cried Paou, more enraged than ever.
O-po-tae answered: "I will not separate myself."
Paou:--"Why then do you not obey the orders of the wife of Ching-yih and
my own? What is this else than separation, that you do not come to
assist me, when I am surrounded by the enemy? I have sworn it that I
will destroy thee, wicked man, that I may do away with this soreness on
my back."
The summons of Paou, when blockaded, to O-po-tae was in language
equally figurative:--"I am harassed by the Government's officers outside
in the sea; lips and teeth must help one another, if the lips are cut
away the teeth will feel cold. How shall I alone be able to fight the
Government forces? You should therefore come at the head of your crew,
to attack the Government squadron in the rear. I will then come out of
my station and make an attack in front; the enemy being so taken in the
front and rear, will, even supposing we cannot master him, certainly be
thrown into disorder."
The angry words of Paou were followed by others, and then by blows.
Paou, though at the moment far inferior in force, first began the fight,
and ultimately sustained a sanguinary defeat, and the loss of sixteen
vessels. Our loathing for this cruel, detestable race, must be increased
by the fact, that the victors massacred all their prisoners--or three
hundred men!
This was the death-blow to the confederacy which had so long defied the
Emperor's power, and which might have effected his dethronement.
O-po-tae dreading the vengeance of Paou and his mistress, Ching-yih's
widow, whose united forces would have quintupled his own, gained over
his men to his views, and proffered a submission to Government, on
condition of free pardon, and a proper provision for all.
The petition of the pirates is so curious a production, and so
characteristic of the Chinese, that it deserves to be inserted at
length. "It is my humble opinion that all robbers of an overpowering
force, whether they had their origin from this or any other cause, have
felt the humanity of Government at different times. Leang-sham, who
three times plundered the city, was nevertheless pardoned, and at last
made a minister of state. Wakang often challenged the arms of his
country, and was suffered to live, and at last made a corner-stone of
the empire. Joo-ming pardoned seven times Mang-hwo; and Kwan-kung three
times set Tsaou-tsaou at liberty. Ma-yuen pursued not the exhausted
robbers; and Yo-fei killed not those who made their submission. There
are many instances of such transactions both in former and recent times,
by which the country was strengthened, and government increased its
power. We now live in a very populous age; some of us could not agree
with their relations, and were driven out like noxious weeds. Some,
after having tried all they could, without being able to provide for
themselves, at last joined bad society. Some lost their property by
shipwrecks; some withdrew into this watery empire to escape from
punishment. In such a way those who in the beginning were only three or
five, were in the course of time increased to a thousand or ten
thousand, and so it went on increasing every year. Would it not have
been wonderful if such a multitude, being in want of their daily bread,
had not resorted to plunder and robbery to gain their subsistence, since
they could not in any other manner be saved from famine? It was from
necessity that the laws of the empire were violated, and the merchants
robbed of their goods. Being deprived of our land and of our native
places, having no house or home to resort to, and relying only on the
chances of wind and water, even could we for a moment forget our griefs,
we might fall in with a man-of-war, who with stones, darts, and guns,
would knock out our brains! Even if we dared to sail up a stream and
boldly go on with anxiety of mind under wind, rain, and stormy weather,
we must everywhere prepare for fighting. Whether we went to the east, or
to the west, and after having felt all the hardships of the sea, the
night dew was our only dwelling, and the rude wind our meal. But now we
will avoid these perils, leave our connexions, and desert our comrades;
we will make our submission. The power of Government knows no bounds; it
reaches to the islands in the sea, and every man is afraid, and sighs.
Oh we must be destroyed by our crimes, none can escape who opposeth the
laws of Government. May you then feel compassion for those who are
deserving of death; may you sustain us by your humanity!"
The Government that had made so many lamentable displays of its
weakness, was glad to make an unreal parade of its mercy. It was but too
happy to grant all the conditions instantly, and, in the fulsome
language of its historians, "feeling that compassion is the way of
heaven--that it is the right way to govern by righteousness--it
therefore redeemed these pirates from destruction, and pardoned their
former crimes."
O-po-tae, however, had hardly struck his free flag, and the pirates were
hardly in the power of the Chinese, when it was proposed by many that
they should all be treacherously murdered. The governor happened to be
more honorable and humane, or probably, only more politic than those who
made this foul proposal--he knew that such a bloody breach of faith
would for ever prevent the pirates still in arms from voluntary
submitting; he knew equally well, even weakened as they were by
O-po-tae's defection, that the Government could not reduce them by
force, and he thought by keeping his faith with them, he might turn the
force of those who had submitted against those who still held out, and
so destroy the pirates with the pirates. Consequently the eight thousand
men, it had been proposed to cut off in cold blood, were allowed to
remain uninjured, and their leader, O-po-tae, having changed his name to
that of Hoe-been, or, "The Lustre of Instruction," was elevated to the
rank of an imperial officer.
The widow of Ching-yih, and her favorite Paou, continued for some months
to pillage the coast, and to beat the Chinese and the Mandarins' troops
and ships, and seemed almost as strong as before the separation of
O-po-tae's flag. But that example was probably operating in the minds of
many of the outlaws, and finally the lawless heroine herself, who was
the spirit that kept the complicate body together, seeing that O-po-tae
had been made a government officer, and that he continued to prosper,
began also to think of making her submission.
"I am," said she, "ten times stronger than O-po-tae, and government will
perhaps, if I submit, act towards me as they have done with O-po-tae."
A rumor of her intentions having reached shore, the Mandarin sent off a
certain Chow, a doctor of Macao, "Who," says the historian, "being
already well acquainted with the pirates, did not need any
introduction," to enter on preliminaries with them.
When the worthy practitioner presented himself to Paou, that friend
concluded he had been committing some crime, and had come for safety to
that general _refugium peccatorum,_ the pirate fleet.
The Doctor explained, and assured the chief, that if he would submit,
Government was inclined to treat him and his far more favorably and more
honorably than O-po-tae. But if he continued to resist, not only a
general arming of all the coast and the rivers, but O-po-tae was to
proceed against him.
At this part of his narrative our Chinese historian is again so curious,
that I shall quote his words at length.
"When Fei-heung-Chow came to Paou, he said: 'Friend Paou, do you know
why I come to you?'"
"Paou.--'Thou hast committed some crime and comest to me for
protection?'"
"Chow.--'By no means.'"
"Paou.--'You will then know how it stands concerning the report about
our submission, if it is true or false?'"
"Chow.--'You are again wrong here, Sir. What are you in comparison with
O-po-tae?'"
"Paou.--'Who is bold enough to compare me with O-po-tae?'"
"Chow.--'I know very well that O-po-tae could not come up to you, Sir;
but I mean only, that since O-po-tae has made his submission, since he
has got his pardon and been created a Government officer,--how would it
be, if you with your whole crew should also submit, and if his
Excellency should desire to treat you in the same manner, and to give
you the same rank as O-po-tae? Your submission would produce more joy to
Government than the submission of O-po-tae. You should not wait for
wisdom to act wisely; you should make up your mind to submit to the
Government with all your followers. I will assist you in every respect,
it would be the means of securing your own happiness and the lives of
all your adherents.'"
"Chang-paou remained like a statue without motion, and Fei-heung Chow
went on to say: 'You should think about this affair in time, and not
stay till the last moment. Is it not clear that O-po-tae, since you
could not agree together, has joined Government. He being enraged
against you, will fight, united with the forces of the Government, for
your destruction; and who could help you, so that you might overcome
your enemies? If O-po-tae could before vanquish you quite alone, how
much more can he now when he is united with Government? O-po-tae will
then satisfy his hatred against you, and you yourself will soon be taken
either at Wei-chow or at Neaou-chow. If the merchant-vessels of
Hwy-chaou, the boats of Kwang-chow, and all the fishing-vessels, unite
together to surround and attack you in the open sea, you will certainly
have enough to do. But even supposing they should not attack you, you
will soon feel the want of provisions to sustain you and all your
followers. It is always wisdom to provide before things happen;
stupidity and folly never think about future events. It is too late to
reflect upon events when things have happened; you should, therefore,
consider this matter in time!'"
Paou was puzzled, but after being closeted for some time with his
mistress, Ching-yih's widow, who gave her high permission for him to
make arrangements with Doctor Chow, he said he would repair with his
fleet to the Bocca Tigris, and there communicate personally with the
organs of Government.
After two visits had been paid to the pirate-fleets by two inferior
Mandarins, who carried the Imperial proclamation of free pardon, and
who, at the order of Ching-yih's widow, were treated to a sumptuous
banquet by Paou, the Governor-general of the province went himself in
one vessel to the pirates' ships, that occupied a line of ten _le_ off
the mouth of the river.
As the governor approached, the pirates hoisted their flags, played on
their instruments, and fired their guns, so that the smoke rose in
clouds, and then bent sail to meet him. On this the dense population
that were ranged thousands after thousands along the shore, to witness
the important reconciliation, became sorely alarmed, and the
Governor-general seems to have had a strong inclination to run away. But
in brief space of time, the long dreaded widow of Ching-yih, supported
by her Lieutenant Paou, and followed by three other of her principal
commanders, mounted the side of the governor's ship, and rushed through
the smoke to the spot where his excellency was stationed; where they
fell on their hands and knees, shed tears, knocked their heads on the
deck before him, and received his gracious pardon, and promised for
future kind treatment. They then withdrew satisfied, having promised to
give in a list of their ships, and of all else they possessed, within
three days.
But the sudden apparition of some large Portuguese ships, and some
Government war-junks, made the pirates suspect treachery. They
immediately set sail, and the negociations were interrupted for several
days.
They were at last concluded by the boldness of their female leader. "If
the Governor-general," said this heroine, "a man of the highest rank,
could come to us quite alone, why should not I, a mean woman, go to the
officers of Government? If there be danger in it, I take it all on
myself; no person among you need trouble himself about me--my mind is
made up, and I will go to Canton!"
Paou said--"If the widow of Ching-yih goes, we must fix a time for her
return. If this pass without our obtaining any information, we must
collect all our forces, and go before Canton: this is my opinion as to
what ought to be done; comrades, let me hear yours!"
The pirates, then, struck with the intrepidity of their chieftainess,
and loving her more than ever, answered, "Friend Paou, we have heard thy
opinion, but we think it better to wait for the news here, on the water,
than to send the wife of Ching-yih alone to be killed." Nor would they
allow her to leave the fleet.
Matters were in this state of indecision, when the two inferior
Mandarins who had before visited the pirates, ventured out to repeat
their visit. These officers protested no treachery had been intended,
and pledged themselves, that if the widow of Ching-yih would repair to
the Governor, she would be kindly received, and every thing settled to
their hearts' satisfaction.
With this, in the language of our old ballads, upspoke Mrs. Ching. "You
say well, gentlemen! and I will go myself to Canton with some other of
our ladies, accompanied by you!" And accordingly, she and a number of
the pirates' wives with their children, went fearlessly to Canton,
arranged every thing, and found they had not been deceived. The fleet
soon followed. On its arrival every vessel was supplied with pork and
with wine, and every man (in lieu it may be supposed, of his share of
the vessels, and plundered property he resigned) received at the same
time a bill for a certain quantity of money. Those who wished it, could
join the military force of Government for pursuing the remaining
pirates; and those who objected, dispersed and withdrew into the
country. "This is the manner in which the great red squadron of the
pirates was pacified."
The valiant Paou, following the example of his rival O-po-tae, entered
into the service of Government, and proceeded against such of his
former associates and friends as would not accept the pardon offered
them. There was some hard fighting, but the two renegadoes successively
took the chief Shih Url, forced the redoubtable captain, styled "The
scourge of the Eastern Ocean" to surrender himself, drove "Frog's Meal,"
another dreadful pirate, to Manilla, and finally, and within a few
months, destroyed or dissipated the "wasps of the ocean" altogether.
I have already noticed the marked intention of the Chinese historian, to
paint the character of Paou in a poetical or epic manner. When
describing the battle with Shih-Url, he says:--