288 



CHINESE PIRATES. 



-Chap. XIII. 



I had been more successful in procuring sup- 

 plies of tea and other seeds and plants for the 

 Himalayas than I had been in my search for the 

 seeds of the new tree just noticed. Large supplies 

 had been got together at Ningpo at various times 

 during the summer and autumn, and these were 

 now ready to be packed and shipped for India. 

 For this purpose it was necessary to proceed to 

 Shanghae ; but to get there in safety was no easy 

 matter at this time, owing to the numerous bands 

 of pirates which were then infesting the coasts. 

 The Chinese navy either would not, or perhaps 

 it would be more correct to say they durst not, 

 make the attempt to put them down. Hence, 

 while these lawless gentry were ravaging the 

 coast, the brave Chinese admirals and captains 

 were lying quietly at anchor in the rivers and 

 other safe places where the pirates did not care 

 to show themselves. 



In going up and down this dangerous coast I was 

 greatly indebted to Mr. Percival, the managing 

 partner of Messrs. Jardine Matheson and Co.'s 

 house at Shanghae, and to Mr. Patridge, who 

 had the charge of the business of that house at 

 Mngpo. By their kindness I was always at 

 liberty to take a passage in the " Erin," a boat 

 kept constantly running up and down in order to 

 keep up the communication between the two ports. 

 This boat was well manned and armed, and, more- 

 over, she was the fastest which sailed out of 

 Ningpo. The Chinese pirates knew her well : 



