Curious Mode of collecting Steam-boat Fares. 391 



some of the passengers sprang overboard to save their lives, 

 but only one man, an Englishman, succeeded in effecting his 

 escape, and giving intelligence of this terrible affair. After 

 they had possessed themselves of a considerable booty, the 

 pirates set the vessel on fire, and set at nought all efforts to 

 bring them to punishment by escaping into the interior of 

 the country. 



The arrangements for paying passage money, expenses, 

 &c., are apt to strike a stranger as singular. Gold is abso- 

 lutely out of use, and the current coins, such as Mexican 

 dollars, and copper money, or cash, are too bulky to admit of 

 their being lugged about to pay large amounts. In order to 

 provide for the expenses of a pleasure party of a couple of 

 days it would be necessary to take a large bag, which there 

 was the further danger might disappear somewhere without 

 hands. An excellent arrangement has accordingly been 

 introduced, by which each passenger pays his fare and other 

 expenses, by means of a check on any one of the mercantile 

 houses in Macao or Hong-kong, which is filled up with the 

 entire amount for collection by the controller, and is cashed 

 on his return. This custom is also a remarkable example of 

 mutual confidence in public life, even if it be explained by 

 the fact that the majority of the passengers are well known, 

 and that China has as yet only been frequented by well-off 

 foreigners. 



The passage from Hong-kong to Macao is not entirely de- 

 void of interest. The course of the steamer lies at first 



