2-979-062 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Chinese Pirate-boat at Canton - from a drawing by a Chinese artist, 1857. 'The river swarms with pirates...and they carry on their depredations unchecked in the very teeth of the forts...The pirate vessels and boats are peculiarly constructed, being remarkably fast. The crews are numerous, and the vessels are fully armed with guns, swivels, matchlocks, spears, boarding-pikes, and other weapons of an offensive description...As soon as they get within reach of their victims, they throw on board the doomed vessel a large quantity of fire-balls, so prepared as to produce an intolerable and most offensive odour when explosion takes place; missiles of all kinds are then scattered around. When the terror and confusion thus created is at its height, the pirates grapple and board the prize, when, if resistance is offered, too frequently all on board are butchered in a savage manner'. From "Illustrated London News", 1857.