The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1891-01-14

A-sung looked about with wonder.
The deck was clean and white. Four
cannon were mounted, black and threat
ening-two 9-pounder carronades ON the
quarter deck, long 1S-pounder pivot
gun amidships and 3-pounder pivot
on the forecastle. Swarthy, active sail
ors were at work on deck or in the rig
ging. They were all Manila men from
the Philippine islands, who speak the
Spanish language. The captain, his two
mates and the clerk were the only white
men on board.
Asung was sent below to the Chinese
steward to be instructed in his duties.
When he came on deck again in the af-
ternoon he beheld an animated scene.
Two long, pull away boats were along
side the bark. They carried masts with
mating sails, and besides pulled about
twenty oars on each side. They were
armed with gingals fixed in swivels on
the gunwale; these were Chinese fire.
arms, carrying large ball.
A number of Chinese of mercantile APP
pearance we're on deck earnestly con-
versfng with Capt. Denville A great
|
cred with rawhide, were piled near by.
One of these was open, and A-sung saw
that the upper half of the chest was di-
vided into twenty compartments, in each
of which was dark brown ball of pecu-
liar appearance and smell. Evidently
there was the same number of balls in
the lower part Of the chest.
A-sung soon found out that this was
crude opium, and that the merchants
were buying it, He was ON an opium
ship.
The purchasers paid for the drug some
times with Spanish or Mexican dollars
and sometimes with silver ingots called
sycee. The coins had all been stamped
over and over again with Chinese stamps
until they were completely defaced
These were called 'Nchop dollars" The
value of both coins and sycee was ascer-
tanned by weight.
AS the merchant paid the silver it was
passed over to the "shroff," grave,
specialized Chinaman, who sat at his
table under the awning ON the quarter
deck, and with his brass balances care
fully ascertained the value of it. He
had need of care, for he was under heavy
bonds for the correct performance of his
duty.
After A-sung had been ON board the
Harlequin week he was much puzzled
at the difference in the behavior of these
people who came to buy opium.
/ Some boats came in broad daylight
and took the drug away openly, while
others came stealthily at night, in haste
and fear, and sometimes the ships boat
cautiously took away a chest or two up
some less frequented inlet, carefully
avoiding the mandarin boats that pa
trolled the river.
A-sung asked the steward for an ex-
PLANTATION of this difference, and learned
that the exalted emperor at Picking OBJ
jected to opium being imported into the
land, and therefore it was sometimes
Struggled.
AS for the boats that came openly he
supposed that they found means Ito
cover up mems ears and eyes, meaning,
perhaps. that they bribed the mandarins.
This was in 1843, and the stewards ex-
PLANTATION was probably correct.
A-sung was much interested in the
boarding MEETINGS, which were triced up
every night from the rail to the rigging.
These were for protection against night
attacks by Chinese pirates, who were
many and dangerous in those waters.
But what excited his greatest interest
was the practice at the big guns.
At first the loud reports nearly made
him jump out of his blue and gold slip
pers, but he soon became accustomed 10
the noise. The cannon were touched off
with joss stick, in primitive fashion,
and at night some of these were al
ways kept burning near the mainmast
in readiness for a sudden attack
Venerable young brother" said the
steward one day to A-sung, show many
dollars worth of opium do you think are
in this barbarian shipY
Venerable elder brother, | do not
know" replied A-sung.
"There are four hundreds of thou
sands" said the steward Verify it
would be a rich prize for the pirates"
Two weeks after A-sung Joined the
Harlequin he asked the captains per
mission to go and pay his respects to his
father. Capt Denville granted his re-
quest, and he went ashore in the com
prador's boat. With a light heart he
trudged away toward the village, where
he was received with great joy by his
father and by his young friends and
schoolmates.
He spent a very happy day. All the
children of the village were eagerly pre-
pairing for their Lantern Feast" which
was to take place that night. This is
the children's festival in the spring,
when they are allowed to have their own
way in everything and indulge in merry
making to their-hearts' content.
A-sung wished to stay ashore that
night in order TO take part in the festivi-
ties, but as Capt. Denville would expect
him to come on board he resolved to &C
out to the ship with the comprador in
the evening and ask leave of absence till
the next day. So at evening he walked
back to the landing.
On the way he saw two men approach
ing him, one of whom he thought was
| the ruffian who had beaten the slave
girl. He was not sure of this, however
as this person took another path AND
soon disappeared.
The other man came on and met him
He was portly, well dressed China
man, and saluted A-sung politely, witt
an engaging smile. He stopped and pro
ceeded to address many howery and fiat
tering remarks to the boy, in the course
of which he alluded to his connection
with the Harlequin, claiming to be him
self an old friend of Capt Denville's.
| Although A-sung was in hurry hi
listened with pleasure to one who hat
evidently formed such high opinion o.
him at sight, and he replied unsuspect
ingly to some adroit questions regarding
the armament and regulations of the
ship.
At last the stranger took leave of him
courteously wishing him abundant felic
| ity and the highest honors and promo
ton. Then, as if with sudden thought
he took from the breast of his rich over
garment small bundle tied up in a silk
handkerchief.
Venerable younger brother" he said,
"here are some excellent cheroots with
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