290 



ADVENTURE WITH PIRATES. Chap. XIII. 



These lawless hordes went to work in the follow- 

 ing manner. They concealed themselves behind 

 the islands or headlands until the unfortunate junk 

 or boat they determined to pounce upon had got 

 almost abreast of them, and too far to put about 

 and get out of their way. They then stood boldly 

 out and fired into her in order to bring her to ; 

 at the same time hooting and yelling like demons 

 as they are. The unfortunate vessel sees her posi- 

 tion when too late ; in the most of instances resist- 

 ance is not attempted, and she becomes an easy 

 prize. If resistance has not been made, and no 

 lives lost to the pirate, the captain and crew of the 

 captured vessel are treated kindly, although they 

 are generally plundered of everything in their 

 possession to which the pirates take a fancy. 



The jan-dows, as the pirates are called, have 

 their dens in out-of-the-way anchorages amongst 

 the islands, and to these places they take their 

 unfortunate prizes, either to be plundered or to be 

 ransomed for large sums by their owners at Ningpo, 

 according to circumstances. Negociations are im- 

 mediately commenced ; messengers pass to and fro 

 between the outlaws at the piratical stations, only 

 a few miles from the mouth of the river, and the 

 rich ship-owners at Mngpo ; and these negocia- 

 tions are sometimes carried on for weeks ere a 

 satisfactory arrangement can be made between the 

 parties concerned. And it will scarcely be credited 

 — but it is true nevertheless — that within a few 

 miles from where these pirates with their prizes are 



