During the afternoon of the Wednesday an old American acquaintance of former years at Whampoa, Mr. Botefuhr, came on board to solicit interference and assistance from me, which he stated he had in vain applied for to his own Admiral. Botefuhr’s wife is sister to the wife of the captain of the _Rover_, and although it is known that many were killed there is as yet no positive proof that the captain and his wife were slain. My poor friend clung to the hope that the savages would not have the heart to murder one so fair as his sister-in-law, who was so young, and, as he described her, “only a few months married, comely to look on, and of nice proportions.” It is difficult for me to interfere without causing jealousy on the part of the United States Admiral. My friend, Botefuhr, has already drawn comparisons not complimentary to his countryman. [Sidenote: May 30.] Started in charge of a pilot, a European, of whom there are seven, at 10 A.M., having crossed the bar, found the wind fresh from the N.E., and shaped our course inside the Namoa Island, during daylight the pleasantest route; finding the wind freshening we brought up for the night in Tong Sang, a well-sheltered anchorage. [Sidenote: May 31.] Weather fine, at 5 A.M. steamed out; performed the 74 miles to Amoy with three boilers in seven hours. CHAPTER LXXXVII NORTH CHINA PORTS [Sidenote: 1867. Amoy, May 31.] At Amoy we found the _Cormorant_, a pretty fast despatch gunboat, Commander Broad, whose master came with him and piloted us to a berth in the inner harbour, thereby exciting the jealousy of our own smart master, who might have made a mistake in the passage between the town and the island of Kulangsau. Later in the year this place was celebrated for that prince of fruits, the pumalo. Of course there are many others, but none to be compared to it. The trade here, although one of the first ports open to foreigners, is not equal to Swatow. It is one of the outlets for the enormous province of Fuh Kien, and an accessible port. There is a rare animal here in the shape of a really _active_ Chinese Admiral, and piracy within reach of his station is unusual, although it is supposed that time, place and opportunity offering, his cruisers are not above levying blackmail. A good dock, 286 feet long, and capable, owing to a great rise and fall of tide, of taking in vessels drawing 17 feet, into which the _Cormorant_ will go on Tuesday next for repairs. Our Consul appears to be conspicuously and well-housed on the highest part of Kulangsau, commanding a view both up and down the river. On this island most Europeans live, keeping their offices in the town of Amoy. Coal to be had, and always ready, but the coolies lazy, coal being sent in ten or twelve-ton boats. [Sidenote: June 1.]