a very uncommon and extraordinary
object; but though many of their vessels came close to the ship, yet
they did not appear to be at all interested about us, nor did
they deviate in the least from their course to regard us; which
insensibility, especially in maritime persons, about a matter in
their own profession, is scarcely to be credited, did not the
general behaviour of the Chinese, in other instances, furnish us with
continual proofs of a similar turn of mind: It may perhaps be doubted,
whether this cast of temper be the effect of nature or education;
but, in either case, it is an incontestable symptom of a mean and
contemptible disposition, and is alone a sufficient confutation of the
extravagant panegyrics, which many hypothetical writers have bestowed
on the ingenuity and capacity of this nation.[5]

[Footnote 4: It was probably occasioned by their being over a sand
bank, which is laid down by Arrowsmith in this part of the Centurion's
course.--E.]

[Footnote 5: Neither the ingenuity nor the capacity of the Chinese is
at all implicated by the circumstances recorded, the source of which
may be probably enough conjectured, viz. their contempt of every thing
foreign, which, it is well known, they never scruple to avow. Besides,
as is very soon mentioned, their fishermen were under authority, and
had received no orders or permission to the effect desired.--E.]

Not being able to procure any information from the Chinese fishermen
about our proper course to Macao, it was necessary for us to rely
entirety on our own judgment; and concluding from our latitude, which
was 22 deg. 42' north, and from our soundings, which were only seventeen
or eighteen fathoms, that we were yet to the eastward of Pedro
Blanco, we stood to the westward: And, for the assistance of future
navigators, who may hereafter doubt about the parts of the coast they
are upon, I must observe, that, besides the latitude of Pedro Blanco,
which is 22 deg. 18', and the depth of water, which to the westward of
that rock is almost every where twenty fathoms, there is another
circumstance which will give great assistance in judging of the
position of the ship: This is, the kind of ground; for, till we came
within thirty miles of Pedro Blanco, we had constantly a sandy bottom;
but there the bottom changed to soft and muddy, and continued so quite
to the island of Macao; only while we were in sight of Pedro Blanco,
and very near it, we had for a short space