CHAPTER I.
THE YOUNG SEA CHIEF.--HIS MISSION.
Nearly midway between Formosa and the most southern point of the Chineseprovince of Fokien are the Pescadores, a cluster of small islands, whichare so barren that their few inhabitants are put to the trouble ofprocuring food, and even fuel, from the main land.
These islands, however, have a value of their own in the shape of acapacious harbor and safe anchorage, that was readily seen by the Dutch,the first civilized people who established themselves upon theneighboring island of Formosa, which, although a beautiful and fertileland, has not a sufficient depth of water for vessels of great draught.
It was in this harbor that a large fleet of trading vessels, laden withpearls, red copper, sabre-blades, fan-paper, porcelain, and many otherarticles of commerce purchased at Japan, and on its way to the largetrading cities further south, sought shelter from one of the violenttempests so common to the China seas.
One of these vessels was anchored in the direction of Formosa, somedistance in advance. Larger than the others, she was also of Europeanbuild, and mounted with ten guns. A horde of wild half-naked men swarmedabout the rigging, and decks, interspersed here and there with anofficer garbed in the wide-sleeved robe common to the Chinese prior tothe Mantchou Tartar conquest.
The afterpart of the deck was taken up with a tent formed of poles andmatting of bamboo, the interior of which was luxuriously fitted withchairs, tables, and sofas, tastefully wrought from the wood of roses or,as it is termed in this country, rose-wood. The walls, highly paintedand glittering with japan, were hung with Chinese pictures in gilded andjapanned frames. Between these were long strips of satin up on which,imprinted in colors and gold, were some of the choicest moral maximsfrom the books of the philosopher Confucius.
The panes of the windows, four in number, were formed of stainedtransparent paper. In the piers between, supported by glitteringbranches, were painted lanterns, and from the ceiling, which shone withcolors and carvings of celestial blue and burnished gold, was suspendeda gong of pure silver. So far there could be no doubt that it was thefloating habitation of a wealthy Chinese, but then, curiously, there wasa total absence of those idols, altars, and burning incense, which tothis day are to be found in all Chinese vessels. The truth was, thatalthough a Chinese, the owner was a Christian, as was evinced by a nicheat one end of the room, in which stood a handsome _Prie Dieu_,surmounted by a fine painting of Christ upon the cross.
At this altar, with his hands clasped, knelt a boy of seventeen, whosehigh cheek bones, dark eyes, and long black hair, declared his Chineseorigin. His head and neck were bare, and his ample robe of green silk,which reached nearly to his close fitting leather boots, was confined inthe middle by a crimson girdle, fastened by a clasp of agate stone. Fromthe girdle hung a short straight sword. Although a Chinese, the youthwas a Christian; one, indeed, of those whose faith had been gatheredfrom the teachings of the early European missionaries, whoseindefatigable exertions and untiring patience amidst much persecution,contumely, and even martyrdom, will forever keep their names green inthe memories of the Chinese.
As the youth arose from his kneeling position, the report of a gun rangthrough the air, so snatching up his cap of sable, he went on deck towelcome the arrival of his father, who ascended the side of the vesselfollowed by some half-dozen officers, attired like himself in looserobes of thick brown silk, oiled to withstand the weather and withoutone warlike vestment, except the short swords which hung from theirgirdles.
Standing with his head bent forward and his arms straight by his sides,the attitude of respect, the youth waited for his father to salute him,after which he followed him through the rank of officers to the cabin,when observing the gloomy aspect of the chief's countenance, he said"Has my honored father, the great chief, not prospered with thebarbarian Hollanders?"
"To the full, my son, for like the greedy wolves they have purchased thewhole of my merchandise, and I have more than sufficient wealth todestroy the vermin enemies who are turning the children of the Son ofHeaven from those habits of peace which have so long rendered them thegreatest and most prosperous of the world's people."
"Of what enemies does my honorable father speak? Surely there are nonebut the savage Tartars."
"Of three, my son,--the Tartars, who are now within a few leagues of thepalace of Ten Thousand Years himself; the European savages, who underpretence of commerce have obtained a footing, that, if not soon rootedout, will last forever; and worse, by far worse,--for internal rebellionis as destructive to an empire as to an household,--the rebel mandarinswho are now at open war with their holy sovereign."
"Is this treble sore fresh, that it should now so rankle the heart andcloud the brow of my venerable parent?"
"Truly so, my son, for although long festering it has but now reached ahead," replied the chief, adding, "To the days of my great-grandsire theempire had been free from the profane feet of barbarians.
"Then the different governments passed into the hands of cowardlymandarins, whose weakness became the advantage of the pirate Li-Lao, whoravaged the whole coast with fire and sword, and to get rid of whom thepuny officials sought the aid of the Portugals, who traded at one of theouter ports. These barbarians, however, were brave; they sought, fought,and killed the pirate, and destroyed his ships and, as a reward, werepermitted to settle at Macao."
"Surely, my father should be grateful to these Portugals, whose priestsfirst shed upon his eyes and heart the light of Christianity," said theboy bowing reverently.
"They taught me for their own ends, and I would not trust the rats."
"But the red-haired barbarians of Formosa, from whom my father has justreturned, are they of the same race?"
"Not so, my son, these Dutch dogs are from a distant country calledHolland, where the people are so miserably poor they cannot afford evena king."
"Then why, O my father, were such pauper barbarians permitted to placethe soles of their feet on the land of Formosa?"
"By fraud and artifice the rogues obtained their hold. During a tempestone of their vessels was driven upon the coast: the crew finding theisland to be well situated to their wants, partly by presents, partly byforce, persuaded the simple inhabitants to give them only as much landas could be encompassed by the hide of an ox, when the rogues cut thehide into thousands of narrow slips, tied them end to end and therewithmeasured the earth, to the great surprise and indignation of theinhabitants, who, however, were too powerless to offer resistance. In ashort time they were joined by multitudes of their country men anderected yonder fort, which they call the Castle of Zealand."
"Surely the fleet of my father can exterminate these wasps?" said theboy, whom I shall for the future call by his Christian name of Nicholas.
But as at that moment an officer entered the cabin and reported theapproach of a strange ship, father and son went on deck, prepared togive either a salute to a friend or a broadside to a foe.
The vessel proving to be a war junk and carrying the dragon flag of theEmperor, they fired a salute of respect, when a signal was made from thejunk that she had on board the Mandarin, or Deputy-Governor of Amoy,with a secret communication for the illustrious merchant Chin-Chi-Loong,whereupon the chief bowed respectfully at the name of so great apersonage, and prepared to receive him with all the customary tediousformalities.
This visit from so important a personage very much puzzled Nicholas, whostood the whole time the mandarin was closeted with his father, leaningagainst a gun, in deep thought. When the mandarin had finished and theofficial had taken his departure, Nicholas returned to the cabin, wherehe found the chief sitting thoughtfully with his hand upon the satinwrapper of a letter, which from the great seals affixed and thecharacters Hong Fong (guarded and sealed), he knew must be of greatimportance and from some high personage.
"My information is truthful," said the chief; "there is treason amongthe lords of the court, and the dogs believing Chin-Chi-Loong to be asvile as themselves, have offered him th
e title of king and the island ofFormosa, if he will aid them with his ships, wealth, and men."
"What answer made my honorable father?" said Nicholas.
"A promise to consent, that the traitors may be caught like rats in atrap."
"Surely this is not well, for why need the brave stoop to suchvillainy?" replied the youth boldly.
Not noticing this reply, the chief became pensive for a few minutes,then exclaimed, "Would that I could place a letter in the hands of theSon of Heaven himself!"
"Surely that cannot be a difficulty," said Nicholas.
"Alas! my son, Wey-t-song is so resigned to his pleasures and thecompany of the vile bonzes, that the audience-denying tablet is for eversuspended at the gates of the inner palace."
"Truly it is a maxim that nothing is impossible to the brave. Let myfather place the letter in the hands of his son, and it shall reach theimperial eyes!"
For a minute the chief gazed proudly at the boy, then passing his handacross his eyes, as if to chase away some sad thought, said, "It shallbe so, but for nothing less than the safety of his Emperor wouldChin-Chi-Loong risk the life of his only son; but haste, and assume thedress of a traveling merchant, while I prepare these importantcharacters."
Without another word Nicholas left the cabin, returning, however,shortly afterward, dressed in a plain robe of coarse brown silk, with agirdle of the same color, a couple of short swords beneath his garment,and thick staff of bamboo.
"This promptness is good and bespeaks success," said the chief, layinghis hand on a letter which was enclosed in three wrappers of satin, theouter being sealed in many places, adding, "Secure this packet beneaththy inner robe, for upon its safety may depend the fate of the empire. Iknow not by what means thou mayest reach the Emperor, therefore, when inPekin it would be well to seek the merchant Yang, in the great square,who will aid the son of the great merchant of the south." Then takinganother letter from the table, he added, "As you pass through the cityof Hang-tcheou, seek out Father Adam, the chief priest of theChristians, and place this in his hands; but guard it well, for thecontents are such that were they to meet the eyeballs of the bonzes itmight prove thy destruction."
Then placing a valuable ring on the boy's finger and telling him to takewhat silver he might require, till he reached the merchant of Pekin, whowould supply him with more, he bid farewell to Nicholas, who, signallingone of the consort ships, went on board, and was soon landed at the portof Amoy.
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