Chap. XVIII. 
APPROACH OF PIRATES. 
299 
were burned upon the tables for a short time, and the 
whole business had something solemn and imposing 
about it. The cook, who seemed to be the high priest, 
conducted all the ceremonies. On other days, as well as 
this, it was part of his duty to light the candles in the 
little temple where the gods were kept, as well as 
to burn incense and prostrate himself before them. 
Early on the following morning the whole fleet was in 
motion, starting all at the same time, for the sake 
of mutual protection. The wind and tide were both 
fair, and we proceeded along the coast with great 
rapidity, and were soon out of sight of the Min and 
its beautiful and romantic scenery. The plan of mutual 
protection soon seemed to be abandoned, and the vessels 
separated into threes and fours, each getting on as well 
and as fast as it could. About four o'clock in the after- 
noon, and when we were some fifty or sixty miles from 
the Min, the captain and pilot came hurriedly down to 
my cabin and informed me that they saw a number of 
Jan-dous right ahead lying in wait for us. I ridiculed 
the idea, and told them that they imagined every junk 
they saw to be a pirate ; but they still maintained that 
they were so, and I therefore considered it prudent to be 
prepared for the worst. I got out of bed, ill and feverish 
as I was, and carefully examined my fire-arms, clearing 
the nipples of my gun and pistols and putting on fresh 
caps. I also rammed down a ball upon the top of each 
charge of shot in my gun, put a pistol in each side 
pocket, and patiently waited for the result. By the aid 
of a small pocket telescope, I could see as the nearest 
junk approached that her deck was crowded with men ; 
