Indian Antiquary Vol 49

SR No.: 032541
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 252
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 34 MB

Page 143

August, 1920)
EPISODES OF PIRACY IN THE EASTERN SEAS
139
Cheng was highly delighted with all he heard, and after a deep consultation with his several Commanders, he put to sea with his whole fleet on the 3rd of the moon, bound for Tai-wan (Formosa ). On the morning of the 4th a look out man at the mast hoad discovered the Pescadores, and little after mid-day the expedition reached Neang-ma-king in safety. On the 6th oblations were offered to the sea gods, and a thorough reconnaissance of the adjacent islands was made.
On the 8th the fleet weighed anchor; and on Luh-urh-muns being descried in the distance, Cheng made prayer for a favourable tide to carry his vessels safely into port. Prayer ended, he directed leademen to take a line of soundings, and these returned with the news that the tide had risen fully ten feet higher than on the previous day.
On receiving this intelligence, Cheng fired a gun; and, hoisting signals for a general advance, was followed by his whole fleet. The linguist Ho-pin was posted in the prow of the leading vessel to point out the passage as laid down on the chart he had provided : and eventually, after much poling, sounding and mancuvring, the fleet came to an anchor with great uproar off the city of Chih-khan ( Sakkam ].96
The Commandant of Chih-khan, Meaou-nan-ting? " no sooner beheld the martial appearance of Cheng's landing party, than he despatched Lang-ho-ke (1) to Kwon-shen" for reinforcements, and at the same time opened fire on the floot from all his guns.
On the 10th Cheng, having directed each soldier of the force to provide himself with a bundle of straw, laid close siege to Chih-khan, and sent two interpreters to the front to inform the Commandant that unless he capitulated the whole place would be set on fire. This menace had the desired effect; as Nan-ting (1) being terrified to a degree, surrendered, and the position (Fort Provintia ) was at once occupied by the assailants.
Here it is necessary to pause a moment in order to mention that on the occasion of Ho-pin's feast, Prince Kwei had not the slightest idea but that the linguist's retirement was consequent on his having imbibed too freely. Nay, not until the second day, when efforts to find him proved fruitless, could he be brought to believe that he had absoonded. Even then he continued to attribute his flight to the embezzlement which he had been guilty of, and could not believe that he would so far turn traitor as to guide an expedition whose ambition was to dispossess the Dutch of their settlemente.
To resume on the 18th a heavy gale sprang up, the waves breaking on shore with a roar which was at once deafening and appalling, and this state of affairs continued till midnight.
At daylight the Prince (Coyett ) and his officers mounted the city wall to reconnoitro, and on looking seaward they observed a whale swimming to and fro with a human figure seated on his back. The figure was clad in red garments and its locks were dishevelled.
From Luh-urh-mun the fish started, and after indulging in a variety of gambols, finally passed Chih-khan city and disappeared. The Prince and his staff stood staring at one another, until, finding their tongues, they concluded that they had either been in a trance or had seen a vision. Their ears were now greeted with the sound of her vy guns from the direction of Luh-urh-mun, and on mounting a look out, they discerned through their glasses & whole fleet of vessels approaching with their ensigns and banners floating in the sun light.
* The floet touched at MA-Koung, Pescadores, on the 80th April 1661.
06 Lou-eul moun, the Gate of the Stag's Ear, the strait between Tai-ouan and the matnland of Formosa, called also Lou-k'eou, Mouth of the Stag. # Boe Imbault-Huart, op. oit., p. 60.
(1) Leonard Campin, who was one of the Council at Tal-ouan in 1661 (He Valentyn, op. cit., p. 60). * From this and the preceding references, "Kwen-shen" seems to represent the Metrio where Fort Zeelandia, the headquarters of the Dutch, was situated.
# Soo anse, Episode VII, Vol. XLVIII, p. 179, for a referanoto this apparition.