Luckily we had a brig-of-war at anchor: I removed the cabin stern windows on the starboard side, and the bulkheads of the fore and after cabins. Secured the main-deck guns in-board fore and aft. The war-brig undertook to lift one end of the spar to the level of our main-deck. On board we had power enough to draw it to a snug berth, which gave us a list. The topmast and yard we secured to the main and mizzen chains on the port side. We were going to Hong Kong, but were not afraid of the war junks even in our disabled state. [Sidenote: Feb. 17.] Sailed for China, shaping our course so as to communicate with Sarawak and Labuan. _Auckland_ sailed before us with our marines, and poor Hannan, our chaplain, invalided. I shall miss him much. Eleven of this fine corps of marines had become victims to Labuan fever. [Sidenote: Feb. 25.] Left the ship, which came to off Santobong, in gig, up the river to Sarawak. Kindly received by Brooke, who had returned. The place flourishing, but too many useless hangers-on about him! Took up the mail; no time to spare. [Sidenote: Feb. 26.] Up early. Succeeded in getting on board in one tide. Weighed at once. [Sidenote: Mar. 22.] Caught a shark this afternoon--the first, by the bye, in this ship. Measured about 5 feet, but amazingly powerful. He was cut up and eaten within twenty minutes of his coming on board. [Sidenote: Mar. 30.] Arrived early in Hong Kong Harbour. Found the Admiral recovering from the effects of a paralytic stroke--poor, dear old boy!--very game though. When I reported having the spars on board, he said, “More fool you; if I could not bring them in a line-of-battle ship, how were you to do it in a frigate?” A most effective squadron met together, commanded by an unusually nice set of fellows:-- [Sidenote: Hong Kong, Mar. 31.] _Hastings_ (Flag), _Albatros_, 12, Commander, Arthur Farquhar; _Scout_, 14, Commander, Frederick Johnstone; _Pilot_, 12, Edmund M. Lyons; _Columbine_, 16, John C. D. Hay; _Arab_, 12, William Morris; _Inflexible_, 6, steam sloop, John C. Hoseason; and the _Fury_, 6, steam sloop, James Wilcox; the two latter at Whampoa. Tiffin with Farquhar. [Sidenote: April 2.] Dined with General Staveley, C.B.; he an old friend at the Mauritius in 1829. [Sidenote: April 4.] Chinese reply, refusing to comply with the Treaty of Sir John Davis, and we about to pocket the insult. [Sidenote: April 10.] Finding there was no intention on the part of our Government to enforce the Davis Treaty, the Chief left in _Inflexible_ to visit the northern ports; he ordered _Hastings_ to Singapore, dispersed the sloops, _Albatros_ to Borneo, and the others to their respective stations at the ports in China, opened to trade by the Pottinger Treaty. _Mæander_ was left to take care of Hong Kong. How little our Government knew about China. [Illustration: Mæander, _Hong Kong. Manned Yards on Departure of Sir Francis Collier._] CHAPTER XLI _MÆANDER_--HONG KONG