Chap. XIII. ADVENTURE WITH PIRATES. 



289 



they also knew that her crew would fight, and 

 that they had the means to do so, and although 

 she often carried a cargo of great value, I never 

 knew of her being really attacked, although she 

 was frequently threatened. 



On this occasion, as usual, I availed myself of 

 Mr. Patridge's kindness, and had all my collections 

 put on board of the " Erin." My fellow-passengers 

 were the Eev. John Hobson, the Shanghae chap- 

 lain, and family, and the Eev. Mr. Burdon, of the 

 Church Missionary Society, who had also secured 

 passages in the " Erin " in order to escape falling 

 into the hands of the pirates. 



Leaving Ningpo at daybreak, with the ebb-tide 

 and a fair wind, we sailed rapidly down the river, 

 and in three hours we were off the fort of Chinhae, 

 where the river falls into the sea. As we passed 

 Chinhae anchorage a number of boats got up their 

 anchors and stood out to sea along with us, proba- 

 bly with the view of protecting each other, and 

 getting that protection from the " Erin " which 

 her presence afforded. When we had got well out 

 of the river, and opened up the northern passage, 

 a sight was presented to view which was well 

 calculated to excite alarm for our safety. Several 

 piratical lorchas and junks were blockading the 

 passage between the mainland and Silver Island, 

 and seizing every vessel that attempted to pass in 

 or out of the river. These vessels were armed to 

 the teeth, and manned with as great a set of rascals 

 as could be found on the coast of China. 



