130 
TEN MISERABLE BAYS 
than we had expected : it was the equinox, and we had a 
right to look for lieavy weather, hut we never imagined 
that we should suficr as we did. We \vere soon forced 
to cast the Cooper adrift, and the second night out we 
ourselves dipped into a heavy sea and twisted otf the 
head of the bowsprit, rolling out the topgallant-masts at 
the same time. We had a head-gale to beat up against, 
and of course made little or no headway; and, in addi- 
tion to this, Stevens would insist upon our dancing 
attendance upon the Cooper, lest something might befall 
her. Tliis unnecessary guardianship I never could un- 
derstand, as the latter vessel was making a much better 
weather of it than we were, and a quick passage would 
have been consulted by letting each of us “make the 
best of our "way.” 
After losing our masts we rolled fearfully, and for ten 
days our rooms were afloat. We were ship\ kig seas con- 
stantly, and having the most \mpleasant time I ever expe-- 
rienced; while the Cooper under her close-reefed foresail 
was riding upon the very crests of the towering seas, and 
keeping as dry as a bone. More than one eye glanced 
toward her as the safer as well as the dryer of the two. 
Finally', we arrived off the mouth of the river Min, 
upon the banks of which, and thirty-four miles above the 
sea, is situated the great and slightly-known city of Fou- 
chow-foo, or ratherFou-chow City, the woixl “ foo” meaning 
city. The latitude of the mouth of this river is 26° 08' N., 
its longitude 149° 42' E., and it is situated about lialf- 
way between the port we had left and the one to which 
we Avere bound. Fou-chow is rapidly becoming the great 
door of export of the vast empire of which it is one of 
