IN THE PACIFIC. 63 



the anchorage, in which, during one day and 

 part of another, I bagged thirty-six ducks and 

 teal, besides several kinds of waders. It is very 

 hard work, and there are some dangerous holes 

 in the swamp, in one of which my coxswain 

 nearly disappeared ; I was unable to go to his 

 assistance at the moment, from being in the 

 same predicament myself. 



The land near Supe belongs to a wealthy 

 Peruvian gentleman, Don Domingo Loas, who 

 sent us a most cordial invitation to breakfast at 

 his hacienda. We afterwards visited his sugar 

 and cotton factories, which are worked entirely 

 by Chinese coolies, many hundreds of whom are 

 employed on the estate. Much has been said 

 and written about the atrocities of the coolie 

 traffic from Macao to Peru ; doubtless there is 

 some truth in it, and also a great deal of exag- 

 geration. The condition of the coolie depends 

 very much into whose hands he may fall on his 

 arrival ; in some cases I fear they are badly 

 treated, but in general I believe they are as well 

 off: or better than in their own country. It is 



