390 Voyage of the Novara. 



present point to one stupendous result, — rousing the immense 

 Chinese Empire from its thousand years' lethargy, and forcing 

 the natives who populate it to follow in the great onward 

 career of civilization, whicli in our days is rushing with 

 the rapidity of a tempest through the world ! 



While the Commodore and some of his staff were pro- 

 ceeding to Canton in the gun-boat, the naturalists made an 

 excursion to the Portuguese settlement of Macao, about 

 35 miles distant from Hong-kong, with whicli there is bi- 

 weekly communication by an English steamer. Usually this 

 voyage occupies from four to five hours, but the Bir Charles 

 Forbes was a small slow-going tub, and as our departure was 

 delayed several hours in consequence of a large shipment of 

 chests of opium, for which it was hoped a better price would 

 be obtained at Macao, and as we had on our way thither to 

 contend with rain, squalls, and contrary winds, it was dark 

 ere we reached Macao. 



We were not a little taken aback at finding several of the 

 passengers armed with revolvers. However, these seemingly 

 superfluous precautions against danger in a pleasure sail of a 

 few hours were well founded. Not long before, it had 

 happened that the European passengers to Macao had been 

 assailed by the Chinese on board, and all murdered in cold 

 blood ! the Chinese had stealthily watched for the moment 

 when the captain and passengers were at table in the con- 

 fined cabin of the little craft, took possession of the vessel, 

 and murdered every European on board. The captain and 



