CRUISING AFTER PIRATES. 287 



end. I handed over junks and pirates to the Mandarin. 

 In twos, well secured, they were then placed in different 

 junks, under a strong guard, and taken on shore. I 

 bade my friend good-bye, and went on my journey up 

 the coast. These twenty pirates were sent to Canton, 

 tried, condemned, and executed. 



The Chinese mode of decapitation is simple and 

 expeditious; a short account of it may not be amiss 

 here. A dozen or more of the condemned are taken to 

 the execution ground, which at Canton is a small open 

 space within the city. They are made to kneel down, 

 their hands are then secured behind them, and the 

 executioner goes along the line and arranges their heads 

 and necks. I remember one poor wretch who shrunk up 

 whenever the executioner approached, drawing his head 

 into his shoulders, as if the very touch or nearness of 

 the man was too much for him. The executioner tried to 

 explain how much easier it would be for him to take his 

 head off cleanly and neatly if he kept it well out, and 

 thereupon gave it a good pull, and bared the unfor- 

 tunate wretch's neck once more. Going to one end of 

 the line he walks along, at each step with one blow 

 severing a head from the body. The implement used 

 is a sort of heavy half-sword half-butcher's cleaver, and 

 is used with both hands. 



