The Press., 1901-02-21
'CHEE. N|NG.SU, MANDARIN /
BY M. QUAD.
coPxRIeHT, 1900. sr Q. .. LEwB.

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Beginning at Shangtung, in the Vel
low sea, the coast line Of China is dot
ted with islands clear down to Hong
kong, a distance Of over 1900 miles.
If the islands could be counted, / be-
lieve they would number 10000, great
and small. While some are uninhabft-
ed, there Is not an honest community
on one of them. The people are wreck
ers and pirates to a man, and woe be-
tide the ship which meets with disas-
ter on any Of the island shores. From
Yang -Kiang 10 the entrance Of the
straits of Formosa the islands are un-
der the Jurisdiction of a mandarin at
the above port. In the year 1868 this
mandarin was one Chee-Wing-Su, who
had held office for years, and his repu-
tation was that of a devil. There was
no question but that he encouraged
piracy and got his divide, and his Or
lers 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 educat-
ed, finished liar and hypocrite. and
there was no catching him.
In the year have mentioned above
certain Americans in Hongkong decid-
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 beheaded 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 1t
has always been part Of the business
to bride the custom officials. AS
Shanghai was to be supplied from
Yang tse-Kiang l was sent up to ar
range matters with Chez Wing-Su.
There was no beating around the bush.
I told him what we wanted, and he
lost no time in giving me his figures.
For such a per cent he would guaran-
tee us safety. He was smooth and
suave. but under the polish l saw the
hypocrite and tiger. | accepted his
terms for the company, but I 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 well pro-
vided with small arms. and the crew
of Is was made up entirely Of Euro
peans. On our very first voyage, de-
spite the old scoundrels flag, we were
twice attacked by junks which he
probably sent out. We sent both Of
them to the bottom with their crews,
and, although Chez Wing-Su must
have heard of the tragedies. he passed
them by without word.
We had run three cargoes 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 Is miles farther south. He
claimed that the officials at Shanghai
had got on to our business and had set
a watch, and. though the captain did
not believe the story, he. agreed to
make the landing on the next voyage.
We made the bay at night as we re-
turned, but the guns were double shot
ted, the muskets and pistols loaded,
and every man was at his post. The
first thing we knew we were surround
ed by five junks, and then a fight be-
gan which lasted 40 minutes. We sunk
four of the junks and drove the fifth
ashore. with the loss of but three men
on our side. Next day Chez Wings
appeared on board and pretended to
be very excited and indignant that we
had been molested against his orders.
In the fight we had exterminated at
least 100 of the vermin, but had cap
tured unhurt and were holding ten
others. To try to smooth things over
with us the willy old scoundreI had. the