As Mr. Moss could now neither borrow nor steal, he decided on the dodge of setting fire to his own house, and accused the Sultan of having instigated his people to do it, hoping not only to be revenged for the detention of the title-deeds, but to receive indemnification. But the cleverest fellows outwit themselves: the fact of his having removed his wife and small effects to Labuan a few days previously, and then the statement that he was fired on twelve times with musketry, which no one heard, are facts. On Wednesday, being mounted by Low, we rode through the magnificent jungle peculiar to Labuan, by the Coal Point Road; eight miles brought us there. At 10 A.M. went on board _Pearl_, under manned yards, and inspected a perfect man-of-war. She sailed in the afternoon for Hong-Kong; we took until night to complete coal and followed in the morning; steering for the Palawan passage with every prospect of fine weather. CHAPTER LXXXVI THE CHINA COMMAND [Sidenote: 1867. Hong-Kong, April 30.] On the 30th April found myself once more entering Hong-Kong by the Lyemoon passage. Commodore Oliver Jones’s broad pennant was flying in the _Princess Charlotte_, a huge three-decker, painted yellow and white, and looking shorter and higher than any Ning Po junk. A small fleet of gunboats looking very like business. Stopped on board to receive the usual official visits. [Illustration: _The Commodore._] [Sidenote: May 1.] At noon the shore guns fired a salute, which was cleverly returned by the gunboats firing in succession. The Governor having sent to know the time when I landed, at 2 P.M. was received by Colonel Guy and a guard of 73rd Regiment. His Excellency, Sir Richard MacDonnell, having sent his carriage, I went, accompanied by the Commodore and Flag-Lieutenant, at once to get visit of ceremony over. We found His Excellency and charming wife. Took up my quarters with old friend John Dent at the palace of Dent and Co.; a room was allotted for Harry Stephenson, as well as for W. H. Read. The flag was transferred to the _Princess Charlotte_. [Sidenote: Hong-Kong.] The Opera company small, but for a beginning very fair, and included three French ballet dancers. My conveyance was a chair with four bearers, good-tempered fellows whom no work could tire. Was made an honorary member of the Artillery and Engineers, as well as of the 73rd Mess. The wife of Colonel Guy was the eldest daughter of my old chief Admiral Plumridge, as was also Mrs. Cumming in the same regiment, by his second wife. [Sidenote: May 4.] Read, Stephenson and self went to Macao, in an American-built steamer running between Macao and Hong-Kong. Nothing could be cleaner or more comfortable than these vessels. [Sidenote: May 5.]