se of a
pardon. Most of the inferior chiefs followed his example. A-juo-Chay
(Ching y[)i]h saou) held out a few months longer, and at length
surrendered with sixteen thousand men, on condition of a general pardon,
and himself to be made a mandarine of distinction.

The Ladrones have no settled residence on shore, but live constantly in
their vessels. The after-part is appropriated to the captain and his
wives; he generally has five or six. With respect to conjugal rights
they are religiously strict; no person is allowed to have a woman on
board, unless married to her according to their laws. Every man is
allowed a small berth, about four feet square, where he stows with his
wife and family.

From the number of souls crowded in so small a space, it must naturally
be supposed they are horridly dirty, which is evidently the case, and
their vessels swarm with all kinds of vermin. Rats in particular, which
they encourage to breed, and eat them as great delicacies; in fact,
there are very few creatures they will not eat. During our captivity we
lived three weeks on caterpillars boiled with rice. They are much
addicted to gambling, and spend all their leisure hours at cards and
smoking opium.

FOOTNOTES:

[17] From _The Ladrone Pirates_.

[18] _Junk_ is the Canton pronunciation of _chuen_, ship.

[19] The pirates had many other intimate acquaintances on shore, like
Doctor _Chow_ of Macao.

[20] The pirates were always afraid of this. We find the following
statement concerning the Chinese pirates, taken from the records in the
East-India House, and printed in Appendix C. to the _Report relative to
the trade with the East-Indies and China_, in the sessions 1820 and 1821
(reprinted 1829), p. 387.

"In the year 1808, 1809, and 1810, the Canton river was so infested with
pirates, who were also in such force, that the Chinese government made
an attempt to subdue them, but failed. The pirates totally destroyed the
Chinese force; ravaged the river in every direction; threatened to
attack the city of Canton, and destroyed many towns and villages on the
banks of the river; and killed or carried off, to serve as Ladrones,
several thousands of inhabitants.

"These events created an alarm extremely prejudicial to the commerce of
Canton, and compelled the Company's supercargoes to fit out a small
country ship to cruize for a short time against the pirates."

[21] That the whole family must suffer for the crime of one individu