on_ was lying in Swatow roads, in company with several
other trading junks, when I, being asleep in my cabin, was awakened by a
loud noise on deck, of shrieks and cries, clashing of swords, scuffling
and thumps, as though men were falling. Rushing out to see what was the
matter, what was my horror to discover that the deck was in the
possession of strangers, and that most of my crew lay dead or dying. My
mate with two or three others was still fighting bravely, not far from
the cabin door, when I beheld an Englishman, Jull by name, whom I knew
to be a fearful scoundrel, a sword covered with blood in his hand, and
about to attack the mate and the others. Before I could run back and
get my arms, Jull had killed the mate, and the rest were cut down.
Seeing that I should share the same fate, I jumped through the cabin
port into the water, intending to swim to a junk astern, when Jull, who
had followed me into the cabin, discovering that I was overboard, fired
at me, but missed. I thought that I should escape, but presently
another shot struck me in the back; still I swam on, and reached the
side of the junk.

"When I got on board, the first thing I saw was my ship with all sails
set, standing out of the harbour. I wanted the captain of the junk who
had picked me up to give chase, but he answered, `No, no; Jull has got
too many men and long guns.' Before I could say anything more I had
fainted. When I came to myself, the _Round Moon_ was out of sight. I
have not seen her since, but wishing to recover her, I have not ceased
inquiring about Jull at every place at which I have touched. A few days
ago, as I was sailing from Chusan, I heard that Jull, in command of a
large fleet of junks, had attacked and plundered a number of merchant
vessels in that neighbourhood, and that he was even then at anchor with
all his fleet in a channel between the island of Latea and that of
Chusan. If you go at once northward with your steamers, you may arrive
in time to catch him before he sails away. He has nearly thirty junks,
carrying heavy guns and gingalls, and 500 or 600 men. Your steamers
cannot get up the creek to attack him, and he is very likely to make his
escape if he knows you are coming. You must, therefore, send in a large
force, and be very careful how you approach, and as he fights with a
rope round his neck, he will struggle to the last."

This narrative took a long time to deliver, as Mr Po-ho, though he
professed