among the rice-fields which bordered the banks of
the stream. In this way sixteen junks were captured in succession, and
destroyed in the principal channel. Ten more took refuge in a channel
to the left, but a division of the boats was sent after them. No
sooner, however, did the English appear, than the crews, setting fire to
their vessels, abandoned them, and swam to shore. They burned like
touch-paper, and were quickly destroyed. Another turned into an inlet
on the right, but some boats were quickly after her; and so frightened
were the crew, that they forgot to set her on fire, and she was thus
towed out in triumph.

The heat of the sun was terrific, many men suffered from sunstroke, and
the casualties from the shot of the enemy were considerable. Thirteen
junks escaped by dint of hard pulling, and the commodore determined to
have these as well as many more which he suspected were concealed in the
various creeks.

Next day he accordingly blockaded the mouths of all the creeks. Captain
Forsyth, in the _Hornet_, was stationed at the mouth to prevent escape,
the _Inflexible_ at that of Second Bar Creek, and the _Tribune_ at the
Sawshee channel entrance. This done, the commodore, with the gunboats
and a large flotilla of the boats of the squadron in tow, proceeded up
the Sawshee channel. For twelve miles no enemy was seen. At length,
leaving the steamers, he pulled up another twelve miles, when suddenly
he found himself in the midst of a large city, with a fleet of war-junks
before him, one of large size and richly adorned, while a battery
frowned down on the invaders. It was not a moment for hesitation.
Every gun and musket was discharged at the enemy ahead, and then, with a
cheer, the British seamen dashed alongside the big junk. As they
climbed up the side the Chinese sprang on shore, and immediately a hot
fire from jingalls was opened on the boarders. The marines at the same
time were landed from the other boats, and, forming, prepared to charge
the enemy. As they were about to do so, flames burst out from the
houses near the big junk. "To the boats! to the boats!" was the cry of
the officers on board her. It was discovered that a quantity of powder
had been left in her, and that a train was laid from her to the shore.
Not a moment was to be lost. Her captors sprang into their boats; the
crew of the last, a pinnace, were leaping from her sides, when up she
went, with a loud explosion. Several of