CHAPTER II.

THE OPIUM QUESTION.

Sail from Singapore-Make the Ladrones--Chow-Chow water-Anchor at Macao-Men of War in River-Sail for Chusan-First introduction of Opium-Animated Scene at Cum-sing-moon-Heu-Naetse's Memorial-Heu-Kew's petition against the admission --Local Authorities awkwardly situated-Anecdotes relative to Opium Trade--Tang deeply engaged therein-Chin's Proclamation-Lampoon-Restriction on Opium Trade-Attempt to execute Ho Lankin-Squabble with Mob-Captain Elliot calls a Meeting-State of Trade, 1838-Chinese will have Opium-Exports versus Imports.

The barbarians are like beasts, and not to be ruled on the same principles as citizens. Were any one to attempt controlling them by the great maxims of reason, it would tend to nothing but confusion. The ancient kings well understood this, and accordingly ruled the barbarians by mis-rule; therefore to rule barbarians by mis-rule is the true and the best way of ruling them.-DAVIS's China.

THE above extract, though not true in its logic, is yet true in its practice; but the position we have now taken with the Chinese must soon convince them that the barbarians, as they are pleased to term us, will make it

30

GREAT LADRONES.

necessary to treat them otherwise than as wild beasts, and the force of our arguments must soon bring them to "Chin-chin us plenty much."

On the afternoon of the 28th of June, 1840, we made sail from Sincapore, a small schooner yacht weighing at the same time, with the intention of trying her rate of sailing; but it was only an intention, for we passed her almost as if she had been at anchor. Ere the sun was down we had fairly entered into the China seas, during our passage across which, the weather being beautifully fine, we painted the ship inside and out, having first led all the ropes to spars lashed along the decks, so as to keep them clear of the bulwarks and masts.

On the night of the 11th of July, made the Great Ladrones, and hove-to for daylight. These islands are situated on the eastern side of the great western channel into the River Tigris; are high, and may be approached with safety, the soundings being regular. At 4 A.M., bore up for Macao roads. As the sun rose, tinging the eastern horizon with

CHOW-CHOW WATER.

31

red, the scene became exceedingly beautiful: the high, bold, though barren islands, tipped with his gorgeous rays, formed a fine contrast to the tropical scenery we had but a week or two since been passing through; while the river, covered with fishing-boats in every imaginable position, added a liveliness and spirit to the scene.

With light winds and an adverse tide, we made but little progress; and the ChowChow water rendering the ship unmanageable, we were obliged to anchor until the sea breeze set in. Chow-Chow water is a race or eddy caused by the meeting of tides, and without a very strong breeze, ships will not obey their helms; and as it is not confined to any part of the river, it cannot well be avoided.

Macao has a pleasing appearance from the anchorage; but I will defer any account of it until my Journal brings me to that period, when I became better able to form my opinion, which, from a long subsequent confinement at the town, I had ample opportunity of doing.

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THE SQUADRON.

Ábout 3 г.. we succeeded in getting into the roads, where, in three fathoms water, we were the same number of miles from the town. We found here H. M. S. Larne, Commander Blake, and Volage, acting Captain Warren; the Druid, Captain Smith, being at Toong-koo, and Hyacinth, acting Commander Stewart, at the Bocca Tigris, enforcing the blockade; the rest of the squadron with the transports having proceeded to the north. On the 13th, Commander G. Elliot in the Columbine, arrived from the Cape, and he found that, in consequence of the death of Lord J. Churchill on the 4th ultimo, he had been promoted to the rank of captain, and appointed to the Volage, Captain Warren returning to his proper ship the Hyacinth, and Clarke, the late flag lieutenant, taking command of the Columbine and being attached to Captain Smith's squadron, thereby enabling the Volage to proceed to the northward.

Captain Smith having it in contemplation to make a display at the Bocca Tigris of the force in the river, we were not allowed to

proceed to Chusan until the 14th, on the morning of which day we worked out of the river and continued beating to windward for some days, the winds perversely continuing in the north-east and eastern quarter; and while this hard-hearted wind is blowing, I will attempt a sketch of the circumstances that have led to this war.

The Opium war, as it has generally been misnamed, from the Chinese having taken their stand on that question, and professing that to save the morals of the people this trade must absolutely be put a stop to, has in the minds of many individuals, raised doubts as to the justness of our present proceedings in China. But neither the morals, nor the health of the subject, has been the real cause; which may more properly be found in the "oozing out of the sycee silver from the central flowery land."

It must be borne in mind that, during the monopoly of the trade held by the East India Company, many quarrels and differences arose between them and the Chinese, but on all which points the Company gave way