They had no sooner anchored in the port than ten custom-house officers were placed on board.  At Amoy, as in most other ports in China, the customs are under the direction of a single mandarin, called the Hoppo, or Hoppou.  The Chinese are justly reputed the craftiest people in the world; and it is their invariable maxim to appoint the cunningest man they can find to the office of hoppo.  It may be added, that the people of Amoy are reputed to be less nice in the principles of honour and honesty even than any others in China.  The first thing demanded by these custom-house officers was, what the ship was, and what was her business at this port.  Clipperton made answer, that the ship belonged to the King of Great Britain, and had put in there from stress of weather, in order to obtain a supply of provisions and other necessaries.  The officers now demanded an exact account of the number of men and guns, the nature and amount of the cargo, and the time they intended to stay, all of which they set down in writing, and then departed.

Next morning the men mutinied, and insisted that Clipperton should pay them their prize-money immediately, as the Success was in no condition to proceed to sea.  The man who made this demand was one John Dennison; and when Mr Taylor interposed in behalf of the captain, one Edward Boreman told him he had better desist, unless he had a mind to have a brace of bullets through his head.  There was now an end of all regularity on board, the authority of the captain being completely overthrown.  The country people supplied the ship with abundance of rice, with some cattle and fowls, together with wood and water, for which they were paid.  On the 12th the officers went ashore to wait upon the hoppo, who had a fine palace.  He treated them with great civility, giving them leave to anchor in the harbour, and to remain there till the adverse monsoon was over; but for this he demanded 1700 dollars as port-charges, equal to near L400 sterling, and soon afterward received that sum in ready money.

It may be remembered that Mr Mitchell went out from.  England as second captain under Clipperton.  On his going to Brazil, he was succeeded by Mr Davidson, who was slain in the unfortunate affair at Guam; to whom Mr Cook succeeded as second captain.  He now demanded to receive thirty shares of the prize-money in that capacity, in which he was supported by the men, whom he courted by a continual compliance with all their humours.  Captain Clipperton and the rest of the officers, seeing the turn matters were likely to take, were very desirous that some allowance should be reserved for the officers who were absent, and had been taken prisoners, and for Mr Hendrie and Mr Dod, who had joined them from the Speedwell:  but all their endeavours were fruitless, as the men would not listen to any such allowances.  While these disputes were going on, the men went ashore as they pleased, without asking leave; and when the captain endeavoured to correct this licence, the whole