Chapter I: Part 1

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.)]

....

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.]

On the second moon of the fourteenth year, the admiral _Tsuen mow sun_ went on board his flag vessel, called Mih teng, and proceeded with about one hundred other vessels to attack the pirates. They were acquainted with his design by their spies, and gathered together round Wan shan;[53] the admiral following them in four divisions. [sd: (10 v.)] The pirates, confident in their numbers, did not withdraw, but on the contrary spread out their line, and made a strong attack. Our commander looked very lightly on them, yet a very fierce battle followed, in which many were killed and wounded. The ropes and sails having been set on fire by the guns,[54] the pirates became exceeding afraid and took them away. The commander directed his fire against the steerage, that they might not be able to steer their vessels. Being very close one to the other, the pirates were exposed to the fire of all the four lines at once. The pirates opened their eyes in astonishment and fell down; our commander advanced courageously, laid hold of their vessels, killed an immense number of men, and took about two hundred prisoners. There was a pirate's wife in one of the boats, holding so fast by the helm that she could scarcely be taken away. [sd: (11 r.)] Having two cutlasses, she desperately defended herself, and wounded some soldiers; but on being wounded by a musket-ball, she fell back into the vessel and was taken prisoner.

[Sidenote: 1809.]

About this time, when the red squadron was assembled in Kwang chow wan, or the Bay of Kwang chow, Tsuen mow sun went to attack them; but he was not strong enough. The wife of Ching y[)i]h remained quiet; but she ordered Chang paou to make an attack on the front of our line with ten vessels, and Leang po paou to come from behind. Our commander fought in the van and in the rear, and made a dreadful slaughter; but there came suddenly two other pirates, Hëang shang url, and Suh puh king, who surrounded and attacked our commander on all sides. [sd: (11 v.)] Our squadron was scattered, thrown into disorder, and consequently cut to pieces; there was a noise which rent the sky; every man fought in his own defence, and scarcely a hundred remained together. The squadron of Ching y[)i]h overpowered us by numbers; our commander was not able to protect his lines, they were broken, and we lost fourteen vessels.

[Sidenote: 1809.]

Our men of war, escorting some merchant vessels, in the fourth moon of the same year, happened to meet the pirate nicknamed _The Jewel of the whole crew_, cruizing at sea near a place called Tang pae ke[)o], outside of Tsëaou mun. The traders became exceedingly frightened, but our commander said: "This not being the red flag, we are a match for them, therefore we will attack and conquer them." Then ensued a battle; they attacked each other with guns and stones, and many people were killed and wounded. [sd: (12 r.)] The fighting ceased towards the evening, and began again next morning. The pirates and the men of war were very close to each other, and they boasted mutually about their strength and valour. It was a very hard fight; the sound of cannon and the cries of the combatants were heard some le[55] distant. The traders remained at some distance; they saw the pirates mixing gunpowder in their beverage,--they looked instantly red about the face and the eyes, and then fought desperately[56] This fighting continued three days and nights incessantly; at last becoming tired on both sides, they separated.

[Sidenote: 1809.]

[sd: (12 v.)] On the eighth day of the fifth moon the pirates left their lurking place, attacked Kan chuh han, and burned and plundered the houses. On the tenth they burned and plundered Kew këang, Sha kow, and the whole sea-coast; they then turned about to Këe chow, went on shore, and carried away fifty-three women by force. They went to sea again the following day, burned and plundered on their way about one hundred houses in Sin hwy and Shang sha, and took about a hundred persons of both sexes prisoners.

[Sidenote: 1809.]