nterpreter that
certainly he could not plead sickness, and therefore insisted on his
bearing him company; and that gentleman perceiving that after they had
despatched four or five bottles of Frontiniac, the mandarin still
continued unruffled, he ordered a bottle of citron-water to be brought
up, which the Chinese seemed much to relish; and this being near finished
they arose from table, in appearance cool and uninfluenced by what they
had drunk. And the Commodore, having, according to custom, made the
mandarin a present, they all departed in the same vessels that brought
them.

(*Note. The cow has been held in high honour in India from early times.
The slaughtering and eating the flesh of kine is considered an abominable
crime. The connection between India and Chinese has always been close.
The Buddhist religion was introduced from India during the first century
of the Christian era, and with it no doubt the veneration of the cow.)

After their departure the Commodore with great impatience expected the
resolution of the council, and the necessary licences for his refitment.
For it must be observed that he could neither purchase stores nor
necessaries with his money, nor did any kind of workman dare to engage
themselves to work for him, without the permission of the Government
first obtained.

Some time before this Captain Saunders took his passage to England on
board a Swedish ship, and was charged with despatches from the Commodore;
and soon after, in the month of December, Captain Mitchel and Colonel
Cracherode embarked on board one of our company's ships; and I, having
obtained the Commodore's leave to return home, embarked with them. I must
observe, too (having omitted it before), that whilst we lay here at Macao
we were informed by some of the officers of our Indiamen that the Severn
and the Pearl, the two ships of our squadron which had separated from us
off Cape Noir, were safely arrived at Rio Janeiro, on the coast of
Brazil; and it was with great joy we received the news, after the strong
persuasion, which had so long prevailed amongst us, of their having both
perished.

Notwithstanding the favourable disposition of the mandarin Governor of
Janson at his leaving Mr. Anson, several days had elapsed before he had
any advice from him, and Mr. Anson was privately informed there were
great debates in council upon his affair. However, it should seem that
the representation of the Commodore to the mandarins of the