Cuar.IX.] FORTS AT THE BOCCA TIGRIS. 145 
face, and but thinly covered with vegetation of any 
kind. 
Sometimes however, in our progress, we obtained 
views of beautiful bays, with a few acres of level 
land near the shore, in the midst of which there are 
some pretty houses or huts, surrounded by a few 
trees and shrubs. In sailing amongst these islands 
one is apt to think that in the retirement of such 
places, far removed from the vicious world, and the 
“busy hum of men,” the inhabitants must indeed 
be happy and innocent, having their few wants 
abundantly supplied by the rice which grows luxu- 
riantly around their dwellings, and by the never- 
failing supply of excellent fish, which are easily 
caught in the sea. But these dreams of happiness 
and innocence are soon dispelled —these quiet vil- 
lages abound with pirates, who frequently commit 
acts of the most cold-blooded cruelty, and render 
the passage between Hong-kong, Canton, and Macao 
an alarming and dangerous affair. Lorchas and 
other small vessels, with valuable cargoes on board, 
are frequently attacked, the crew and passengers 
murdered, and the vessels disabled or destroyed. 
A few hours’ sail, with a fair wind and tide, 
brought me in sight of the celebrated Bocca Tigris, 
the entrance to the Canton river. The forts de- 
stroyed during the war had been rebuilt on a more 
extensive scale ; and, if manned with English sol- 
diers, no hostile fleet in the world could pass them 
without being blown to pieces. I fancy, however, 
that the Chinese, although they have had a lesson 
? L 
