hough it was difficult to conceive what reason could
induce the fellow to be at such extraordinary pains to impose on them.

It was the beginning of April before they had new-rigged the ship,
stowed their provisions and water on board, and had fitted her for the
sea; and before this time the Chinese grew very uneasy, and extremely
desirous that she should be gone; either not knowing, or pretending
not to believe, that this was a point the commodore was as eagerly set
on as they could be. On the 3d of April, two mandarine boats came on
board from Macao to urge his departure; and this having been often
done before, though there had been no pretence to suspect Mr Anson
of any affected delays, he at this last message answered them in a
determined tone, desiring them to give him no further trouble, for he
would go when he thought proper, and not before. On this rebuke the
Chinese (though it was not in their power to compel him to be gone)
immediately prohibited all provisions from being carried on board him,
and took such care that their injunctions should be complied with,
that from that time forwards nothing could be purchased at any rate
whatever.

On the 6th of April, the Centurion weighed from the Typa, and warped
to the southward; and by the 15th, she was got into Macao road,
completing her water as she passed along, so that there remained now
very few articles more to attend to, and her whole business being
finished by the 19th, she, at three in the afternoon of that day,
weighed and made sail, and stood to sea.

SECTION XXX.

_From Macao to Cape Espiritu Santo; the taking of the Manilla Galleon,
and returning back again._

The commodore was now got to sea, with his ship very well refitted,
his stores replenished, and an additional stock of provisions on
board: His crew too was somewhat reinforced; for he had entered
twenty-three men during his stay at Macao, the greatest part of which
were Lascars or Indian sailors, and some few Dutch. He gave out at
Macao that he was bound to Batavia, and thence to England; and though
the westerly monsoon was now set in, when that passage is considered
as impracticable, yet, by the confidence he had expressed in the
strength of his ship, and the dexterity of his people, he had
persuaded not only his own crew, but the people at Macao likewise,
that he proposed to try this unusual experiment; so that there were
many letters put on board him by the inhabitants of Canton and M