CHAPTER XIV. 



CRUISING AFTER PIRATES. 



Although my first acquaintance with Cliina was in 

 1855, I mean to relate a few piratical incidents of a 

 later date, and afterwards, perhaps, return to that year, 

 and the war which immediately followed. 



In 1864 the coasts of China, and particularly the 

 southern parts, were infested with pirates. I com- 

 manded a gunboat, whose particular duty was to keep 

 them in check. The Gulf of Tonquin, the island of 

 Hainan, and the coast from thence up to Macao was 



