r idols, and the whole ritual they call "_joss pidgin_." The
priests they name "_joss-men_," an appellation, too, they somewhat
irreverently bestow on our naval chaplains. One of the largest junks,
with a priest on board, and containing all the vessels and objects
pertaining to their ritual, makes the circuit of the harbour--the priest
meanwhile burning prayers and setting off crackers for a blessing on the
supply of fish for the ensuing year.

January 29th.--This evening the officers gave their first theatrical
entertainment on board, the acting of some of the characters being
pronounced above the average; one or two of the younger midshipmen, to
whom the parts fell, made very tempting and graceful ladies.

February 14th.--This day finds us at the back of the island preparing
for target practice. In one of the bays here is an admirable natural
target: a solitary rock rising perpendicularly from the sea, with a mark
painted on it, is a most interesting thing to fire at, for you can
observe the effect of your shot. Behind this rock sloped a hill, on
which were seated, though unknown to us, two Chinamen; the first
half-a-dozen rounds were so true that the unseen watchers had no
suspicion they were in dangerous quarters, or that it was possible that
even the Duke's marksmen were fallible; the seventh round disillusioned
them, for, from a slight fault in the elevation, the shot over-reached
the target and pitched so close to the Chinamen that stones and rubbish
came rattling down from everywhere about their ears; fear lent them
wings, and they scampered off like the wind. They may be running now for
aught I know, as when we last saw them the horizon seemed to be the goal
they were aiming at.

March 10th.--We were to have put to sea to-day had not a melancholy and
fatal accident changed the whole course of events. Richard Darcy, a
young seaman, whilst engaged on the crosstrees fell to the deck,
striking the rail on the topgallant forecastle in his fall. His body was
frightfully mangled and torn, his scull fractured, and all his limbs
broken. Mercifully he never regained consciousness. Next day we buried
him in the beautiful cemetery of Happy Valley, than which there are few
more picturesque spots in China; 'twas surely a poetic fancy which
inspired the Chinese with the term "_happy_" when naming this sylvian
vale.

In the afternoon we slipped from the buoy and steamed seaward for
tactics, returning the following day to p