saw a light, which the Ladrones answered, and the Mandarin hauled off.  Our situation was now a critical one; the ransom was in the hands of the Ladrones, and the compradore dare not return with us for fear of a second attack from the Mandarin boat.  The Ladrones would not wait till morning, so we were obliged to return with them to the fleet.  In the morning the chief inspected the ransom, which consisted of the following articles:  two bales of superfine cloth; two chests of opium; two casks of gunpowder, and a telescope; the rest in dollars.  He objected to the telescope not being new; and said he should detain one of us till another was sent, or a hundred dollars in lieu of it.  The compradore, however, agreed with him for the hundred dollars.  Every thing being at length settled, the chief ordered two gun-boats to convey us near the Antelope; we saw her just before dusk, when the Ladrone boats left us.  We had the inexpressible pleasure of arriving on board the Antelope at seven, P.M., where we were most cordially received, and heartily congratulated on our safe and happy deliverance from a miserable captivity, which we had endured for eleven weeks and three days.

(Signed) “RICHARD GLASSPOOLE. China, December 8th. 1809.”

“The Ladrones have no settled residence on shore, but live constantly in their vessels.  The after-part is appropriated to the captain and his wives; he generally has five or six.  With respect to the conjugal rights they are religiously strict; no person is allowed to have a woman on board, unless married to her according to their laws.  Every man is allowed a small berth, about four feet square, where he stows with his wife and family.  From the number of souls crowded in so small a space, it must naturally be supposed they are horridly dirty, which is evidently the case, and their vessels swarm with all kinds of vermin.  Rats in particular, which they encourage to breed, and eat as great delicacies; in fact, there are very few creatures they will not eat.  During our captivity we lived three weeks on caterpillars boiled with rice.  They are much addicted to gambling, and spend all their leisure hours at cards and smoking opium.”

[Illustration:  The War Junks of the Ladrones.]

At the time of Mr. Glasspoole’s liberation, the pirates were at the height of their power; after such repeated victories over the Mandarin ships, they had set at nought the Imperial allies—­the Portuguese, and not only the coast, but the rivers of the celestial empire seemed to be at their discretion—­and yet their formidable association did not many months survive this event.  It was not, however, defeat that reduced it to the obedience of the laws.  On the contrary, that extraordinary woman, the widow of Ching-yih, and the daring Paou, were victorious and more powerful than ever, when dissensions broke out among the pirates themselves.  Ever since the favor of the chieftainess had elevated Paou to the general command, there had been enmity and altercations between him and the chief O-po-tae, who commanded one of the flags or divisions of the fleet; and it was only by the deference and respect they both owed to Ching-yih’s widow, that they had been prevented from turning their arms against each other long before.