CHAPTER IV.

The Pratta Shoal--The Wreck--The Pirates--Another Wreck--Prospect of Hong-Kong--Wantchee Dinner--Up the River--Bocca Tigris--Getting it properly--A Chinese Landscape--Plenty of Swamp-seed--Our Anchorage--Boats to Fatsan--A Dose for the Longtails--A dark Watch--Capture of Chuenpee--Trophies: unboiled Goat and boiled Rice--Chasing a Pirate--Bird-scarers--Alarm of Fire--Inspection by Admiral Sir Michael Seymour--The Growlers pacified--Crickets and Bullfrogs--Theatrical Amusement--Discontent--Drop down the River--A Funeral--Hong-Kong, and a Run on Shore--A Prospect--The old Anchorage again--Flogging and Tail-lopping--Rowing Guard-boat--Cooking and Story-telling--A Sanpan of Thieves--Prizes without Profit--A Grumble--See-no-more’s Fund 54