Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-02-02
CHEZ -N|NG-SU, MANDARIN
by NJ. QUAD.
COPYRIGHT, 1900, By C. d. LEWIS.

beginning at Shangtung, in the Vel
low sea, the coast line of China is dot
ted with islands clear down to Hong
kong. distance of over 1000 miles.
If the islands could be counted, | be-
lieve they would number 10000, great
and small. While some are uninhabit-
ed. there is not an honest community
on one of them. The people are wreck
crS and pirates to Il man, and woe be-
tide the ship which meets with diSas-
ter on any of the island shores. From
Yang-tSc- kiang to the entrance of the
straits of FOrm0Sa the islands are I'M
der the jurisdiction of Il mandarin at
the above port. In the year 1S6S this
mandarin was one Chez ing-Su, who
had held office for years, and his rcpu-
tation was that of Il devil. There was
no question but that he encouraged
piracy and got his divide. and his or
ders all along the coast line were to
kill every white person who might fall
into the hands of his subjects. The
fellow was subordinate to the govern
or of Shanghai. but whenever he was
brought up on the complaint of Euro
pean consul he managed to get the
best of it. He was fairly well cducat-
ed, a finished liar and hypocritc, and
there was no catching him.
In the year l have mentioned above
certain Americans in Hongkong dccid,
ed to fit out an opium clipper to supply
the port of Shanghai. Opium SNUG
CLING was against the law, of course,
and any person found engaged in the
trade was bchcaded at once but you
might as well try to keep rice as opium
out of China. The profits in smuggling
have always been enormous. and it
has always been part of the business
to bride the custom officials. AS
Shanghai was to be supplied from
Yang-tSe- kianG i was sent mp to ar
range matters with Chez WingSu
There was no beating around the bush.
/ told him what we wanted. and he
lost no time in giving me his figures.
For such a per cent he would Suaran-
tee us safety. lie was smooth and
suave, but under the polish | saw the
hypOcrite and tiger. | accepted his
terms for the company. but | also
warned them that he would not hest.
tate to play any sort of game for his
own benefit. He gave us flag to pro.
tect us from piratical junks, but we
did not trust to it. The clipper was
fitted out with four guns and we'll pro-
Vidcd with small arms, and the crew
of IS was made up entirely of Euro
peanS. On our very first voyage, de-
spite the old scoundrel's flag, we We're
twice attacked by junks which he
probably sent out. We sent both of
them to the bottom with their crews,
and, although Chee-Wing-Su must
have heard of the tragedies, he passed
them by without a word.
We had run three cargocs when the
old fellow prepared a surprise party
for us. He sent for our captain and
changed the place of landing to an is
land about 10 miles farther south. He
claimed that the officials at Shanghai
had got on to our business and had set
watch, and, though the captain did
not believe the story, he agreed to
many tii' VII llt iltAl Wy uSt.
We made the bay at night as we re-
turned. but the guns We're double shot
ted. the muSkcts and pistols loaded,
and every man was at his post. The
first thing we knew we were surround
ed by five iunkS, and then fight be-
gan which lasted 40 minutes. We sunk
four of the junks and drove the fifth
nSl,I . ,fl ~,
on our side. Next day Chez Wing Su
appeared on board and pretended to
be very excited and indignant that we
had been molcStcd against his orders.
In the fight we had eXtcrminatcd at
least 100 of the vCrmin, but had cap
turcd unhurt and We're holding ten
Others. To try to smooth things over
with us the willy old scoundrcl had the
ten brought before us, read them les
son on morality and then had their
heads struck off by his own cXecu-
toner.
Our landing was to be Yang tSe-Ki-
ang again, and Chez Wing Su put up
another job. TO restore our confidence
in him again he offered to put 1000
into our next venture and draw out
only fair per cent. This seemed like
a fair thing, and it was accepted. He
handed over the money with prompt
ness, and we sailed away, but when
our captain had had time TO turn the
matter over in his mind he began to
wonder and theorize. Old Chez Wing
Su would never have put in his money
without some stronger motive than a
per cent profit. Few Chinese ever
trust European a snilling's worth,
and man Of his class must have
handed over his little fortune to throw
dust in our eyes. \ good deal of time
was given to the puzzle, but just what
his scheme was could not be satisfac-
tOrily solved. We could only watch
and wait and be prepared for whatever
might happen.
On our return we always made port
at night. When we had displayed an
agreed signal, sampans came off to lis
and unloaded and took away the cargo
and an agent was at hand TO pay for