Chapter I: Front Matter

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* * * * *

A LADY'S CAPTIVITY
AMONG
CHINESE PIRATES
IN
The Chinese Seas.

TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH
OF
MADEMOISELLE FANNY LOVIOT,
BY
AMELIA B. EDWARDS.

LONDON:
GEO. ROUTLEDGE & CO., FARRINGDON STREET;
AND 18, BEEKMAN STREET, NEW YORK.

LONDON:
THOMAS HARRILD, PRINTER SALISBURY SQUARE,
FLEET STREET.

Dedication.

TO MADAME * * *

MADAME AND FRIEND,

When I first related to you the following strange and eventful episode, you advised me, inexperienced as I was, to write and publish it. I had never written a book in my life; but you encouraged me to make the attempt. "Be simple," you said, "be natural, and even simplicity and nature will suffice to make your work attractive. Add nothing, and take nothing away. Relate all your sufferings, and bid your pen record the faithful dictates of your memory. You will at least find friends among that healthy class which loves the simple and the true. Leave geology and geography alone, and be only yourself--a young and courageous woman, cast into the midst of frightful dangers, and miraculously saved. Many as are the readers and writers of travels, few women have visited China, and none, save yourself, have such a tale of adventure to relate. Write, then, and fear nothing."

It was thus, Madame, that you persuaded me, and it is thus that I have obeyed you. I have lived, while writing, amid the scenes and sufferings of the past. I have once again experienced all the terrors of captivity--once again been tossed by tempests, blinded by incendiary flames, and threatened with uplifted sabres. Inasmuch as these things have moved me by the mere remembrance, so I trust they may interest others in the mere recital. They will at least bear the impress of emotion and truth.

I place myself, Madame, under your patronage, and beg that you will accept this expression of my respect and affection.

FANNY LOVIOT.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Departure from Havre--Regrets--A Barrier of Rocks--Rio
Janeiro--Departure from Rio--Six Weeks at Sea--Cape Horn--
Storms--Death of a Sailor--Catching a Shark--Land! Land!--
The Gold Country _page_ 1

CHAPTER II.

The Bay of San Francisco--Deserted Ships--The Mission--
Dolores--Manners of the Chinese Emigrants--The Black
Race--The Loungers of Jackson Street--Gaming Houses--The
Black Band--The Committee of Vigilance--On Hanging _page_ 13

CHAPTER III.

Sacramento--Fort Sutter--Nomadic Indians--Marysville--
Shasta City--Adventure with a Bear--Weaverville--The
Miners--The Rocky Mountains--Eureka--Return to San
Francisco _page_ 25

CHAPTER IV.

Fire--Departure for China--The "Arcturus"--An Invalid on
Board--Chinese Sorcerers--Death--The Chinese Seas--A
Watery Journey--Arrival at Hong-Kong--Visit to the
Consul--Journey to Canton--Chinese Insurrection _page_ 42

CHAPTER V.

Captain Rooney--Than-Sing--A Storm--The Typhoon--Fall of
the Mizen-mast--Effects of the Tempest--Disasters of the
"Caldera"--Chinese Pirates--Scene between Decks--A Crew in
Fetters--Examination--I am threatened with Death--Plunder _page_ 55

CHAPTER VI.

Unlading--The Good Chinese--A Ray of Hope--A Second
Flotilla--Disguise--Hunger--The Father of a Family--
Proposed Escape--Refusal of the Crew--Rage of Captain
Rooney--Hopes and Disappointments _page_ 72

CHAPTER VII.

Efforts at Escape--Attempted Flight--Return to the
"Caldera"--Capture--Cruelties of the Pirates--Portrait of
a Pirate Chief--Chinese Prayer--Death of a Pirate--
Seizure of a Merchant Junk--Fresh Plunder--Fortune of
the Vanquished _page_ 88

CHAPTER VIII.

Despair--I write the Date of my Captivity--Benevolence of
the Pirates--A Happy Meal--A Steamer in Sight--Flight of
the Pirates--Gratitude--Hurrah! Hurrah! I am Saved! _page_ 107

CHAPTER IX.

Captain Rooney's Story--Expedition along the Coast--The
Pirate's Mother--Death of a Chinese--The "Lady Mary
Wood"--Return to Hong-Kong--Protection of the
Consul--Visit of Than-Sing--Good-bye to Captain Rooney _page_ 122

CHAPTER X.

Departure from China--The "Malta"--Singapore--Penang--The
Island of Ceylon--The "Bentinck"--Aden--In the Red Sea--
The Isthmus of Suez--Cairo--The Nile--The Pyramids--
Boulac--Alexandria--The "Valetta"--Malta--
Marseilles--End of a Journey Round the World _page_ 136

CORROBORATIVE EXTRACTS FROM THE FRENCH PRESS, 141

A LADY'S CAPTIVITY AMONG CHINESE PIRATES.