“I came myself in the _Dido_, and I may say that her appearance was the consummation of my enterprise. The natives saw directly that there was a force to protect and to punish, and most of the chiefs, conscious of their evil ways, trembled. Muda Hassim was gratified, and felt that this power would exalt his authority, both in Borneo and along the coast, and he was not slow in magnifying the force of the _Dido_. The state in which Captain Keppel and his officers visited the Rajah all heightened the effect; the marines and the band excited the admiration as well as the fears of the natives. I felt the Rajah’s hand tremble at the first interview, and not all the well-known command of countenance could conceal his emotion.” Gentle reader, excuse my vanity if I continue a little further with my friend’s journal, although it gets rather personal: “I believe the first emotion was anything but pleasurable; but Captain Keppel’s conciliatory and kind manner soon removed any feeling of fear, and all along was of the greatest use to me in our subsequent doings.” CHAPTER XXX _Dido_--CHINA [Sidenote: 1843. June 28.] Afternoon, came to in Singapore Roads. Put up with friend Whitehead. Glad again to catch Henry Seymour in _Harlequin_. Sorry to hear of the death of my dear old Royal master, the Duke of Sussex. Examination of midshipmen. One rare stupid, but passed them all! Landed poor Dr. Simpson at sick-quarters looking too ill. [Sidenote: June 30.] Weighed for China. Synge of 98th with me. Have to work up against monsoon. A lovely squall carried us eleven knots, on a wind. At sunset shifted topsails ready for the next. No wish for a typhoon though. [Sidenote: July 12.] 1 A.M.--Anchored in Hong Kong. Breakfast with Commander-in-Chief. Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane present. The Plenipotentiary, Sir Henry Pottinger, was busy extracting indemnity from Mandarins, who understood as much or as little as they liked. Although war was over, it was necessary to retain possession of certain points until the indemnity was paid. This caused many transports to lie idle at Whampoa. Nor was there enough of the rupee coin to pay the crews. Idleness, root of evil. _Dido_ being a post command, it fell to my disagreeable lot to keep order. I did not think much of the Consuls and Vice-Consuls, nor they of me. The Plenipo and Admiral, not having much to do, were jealous. If I have any fair readers, I would advise them to skip the following. I hope shortly to take them to new ground. [Sidenote: July 13.] Cunynghame to breakfast. Lent me his pony that I might dine with 98th at Chuck Chow. Whimper, senior, attentive and kind, as they all were, proposed my health as senior honorary member. [Sidenote: July 17.] Signal for _Dido_, “Prepare for sea.” Sailed for Macao with Edwards and Wade. One of the pirates who had murdered Dr. Kinlay caught. [Sidenote: July 19.]