CHINESE PIRATES.

Patea Mail, 17 April 1882, Page 3

CHINESE PIRATES.

A Chinese Robin Hood has made his appearance in the Chinese seas and rivers. • He levies toll on the rich and assists the poor. A telegram from Hong Kong published on the 7th January, says:—“ Another expedition has been fitted out against Kwang-King Man, the notorious Chinese pirate. A-gun boat, named the Fu Po, fully manned, and carrying a. large body of troops, was despatched on the 18th October to search the seas for the piratical craft. When in the Sungmun waters the captain of the man-of-war espied a dark object on the port bow, but at too great a distance for him to make certain whether it was a sailing vessel or a steamer. With an evident knowledge of a recent cause cdlehre, ho gave orders to the engineroom for half-speed, while he examined it with his glass. Careful scanning proved the unknown to be a junk crammed with men. Orders were given to go full speed ahead, and the marines had instructions to load with ball cartridge. On coming to the junk, the latter soon disclosed the metal which she was made of, by rounding to and firing a big gun at the war ship, and the shot appears to have made havoc among the marines on the deck. The gun vessel

imni' diiit, !y replied, ancl one of the guns took such excellent effect that the ball was sent, through the junk, which immediately sunk. All the pirates who were not carried down with the ship look to swimming for the land, and nearly all escaped by this means. Ultimately two pirates were captured, and they were beheaded. The naval division suffered considerably, to the extent, it is said, of twenty marines.”