shang tsing, nicknamed _The frog's meal_, was the commander of the _green_; and Ching y[)i]h of the _red_ flag. Every flag was appointed to cruise in a particular channel. There was at this time a gang of robbers in the province Fo këen, known by the name of Kwei këen (6760, 5822); they also joined the pirates, who became so numerous that it was impossible to master them. We must in particular mention a certain _Chang paou_, a notorious character in after-times. Under Chang paou were other smaller squadrons, commanded by Suh ke lan (nicknamed _Both odour and mountain_) Lëang po paou, Suh puh gow, and others. Chang paou himself belonged to the squadron of Ching y[)i]h saou, or the _wife of Ching y[)i]h_,[32] so that the red flag alone was stronger than all the others united together. [sd: (4 r.)] There are three water passages or channels along the sea-shore, south of the Mei ling mountains;[33] one goes eastward to _Hwy_ and _Chaou_[34]; the other westward to _Kao_, _Lëen_, _Luy_, _Këung_, _Kin_, _Tan_, _Yae_ and _Wan_;[35] and a third between these two, to _Kwang_ and _Chow_.[36] The ocean surrounds these passages, and here trading vessels from all the world meet together, wherefore this track is called "_The great meeting from the east and the south_." The piratical squadrons dividing between them the water passages and the adjoining coasts, robbed and carried away all that fell into their hands. [sd: (4 v.)] Both the eastern and the middle passage have been retained by the three piratical squadrons, Ching y[)i]h saou, O po tae, and Leang paou; the western passage was under the three others, nicknamed _Bird and stone_, _Frog's meal_, and the _Scourge of the eastern sea_. Peace and quietness was not known by the inhabitants of the sea-coast for a period of ten years. On the side from _Wei chow_ and _Neaou chow_[37] farther on to the sea, the passage was totally cut off; scarcely any man came hither. In this direction is a small island, surrounded on all sides by high mountains, where in stormy weather a hundred vessels find a safe anchorage; here the pirates retired when they could not commit any robberies. This land contains fine paddy fields, and abounds in all kinds of animals, flowers, and fruits. This island was the lurking-place of the robbers, where they stayed and prepared all the stores for their shipping. [Sidenote: 1807.]