We have the collections of former historians, who in a fine style described things as they happened, that by such faithful accounts the world might be governed, and the minds of men enlightened. People may learn by these vast collections[23] what should be done, and what not. It is, therefore, desirable that facts may be arranged in such a manner, that books should give a faithful account of what happened. There are magistrates who risk their life, excellent females who maintain their virtue, and celebrated individuals who protect their native places with a strong hand; they behave themselves valiantly, and overlook private considerations, if the subject concerns the welfare of the people at large. Without darkness, there is no light; without virtue, there is no splendour. In the course of time we have heard of many persons of such qualities; but how few books exist by which the authors benefit their age! This is the Preface respectfully written by _King chung ho_, called _Sin joo min_,[24] at the time of the second decade, the first month of the autumn, the year _K[)a]ng yin_ (September 1830) of Tao kwang.[25] THE HISTORY OF THE CHINESE PIRATES. BOOK FIRST. [sd: (1 r.)] There have been pirates from the oldest times in the eastern sea of Canton; they arose and disappeared alternately, but never were they so formidable as in the years of Këa king,[26] at which time, being closely united together, it was indeed very difficult to destroy them. Their origin must be sought for in Annam.[27] [sd: (1 v.)] In the year fifty-six of Këen lung (1792), a certain Kwang ping yuen, joined by his two brothers, Kwang e and Kwang kw[)o], took Annam by force, and expelled its legitimate king Wei ke le.[28] Le retired into the province Kwang se, and was made a general by our government. But his younger brother Fuh ying came in the sixth year of Këa king (1802) with an army from Siam and Laos,[29] and killed Kwang ping in a great battle. The son of the usurper, called King shing, went on board a ship with the minister Yew kin meih, and Meih joined the pirates, Ching tsih, Tung hae pa, and others, who rambled about these seas at this time. The pirate Ching tsih was appointed a king's officer, under the name of _master of the stables_. [sd: (2 r.)] King shing, relying on the force of his new allies, which consisted of about two hundred vessels, manned with a resolute and warlike people, returned in the twelfth moon of the same year (1803) into that country with an armed force, and joined by Ching tsih, at night time took possession of the bay of Annam. The legitimate king Fuh ying collected an army, but being beaten repeatedly, he tried in vain to retire to Laos.