On the seventh moon of the thirteenth year, the naval officer of the garrison at the Bocca Tigris,[44] Kw[)o] lang lin, sailed into the sea to fight the pirates.[45] Chang paou was informed by his spies of this officer's arrival, and prepared an ambush in a sequestered bay. [sd: (7 v.)] He met Kw[)o] lang on a false attack, with a few vessels only; but twenty-five vessels came from behind, and the pirates surrounded Kw[)o] lang's squadron in three lines near Ma chow yang.[46] There followed a fierce battle, which lasted from the morning to the evening; it was impossible for Kw[)o] lang to break through the enemy's lines, and he determined to die fighting. Paou advanced; but Lang fought exceedingly hard against him. He loaded a gun and fired it at Paou, who perceiving the gun directed against him, gave way. Seeing this, the people thought he was wounded and dying; but as soon as the smoke vanished Paou stood again firm and upright, so that all thought he was a spirit. The pirates instantly grappled Kw[)o] lang's ship; Paou was the foremost, and Leang po paou the first to mount the vessel; he killed the helmsman, and took the ship. The pirates crowded about; the commander Kw[)o] lang engaging with small arms, much blood was shed. [sd: (8 r.)] This murderous battle lasted till night time; the bodies of the dead surrounded the vessels on all sides, and there perished an immense number of the pirates. Between three and five o'clock the pirates had destroyed or sunk three of our vessels. The other officers of Kw[)o] being afraid that they also might perish in the sea, displayed not all their strength; so it happened that the pirates making a sudden attack, captured the whole remaining fifteen vessels. Paou wished very much that Kw[)o] lang would surrender, but Lang becoming desperate, suddenly seized the pirate by the hair, and grinned at him. The pirate spoke kindly to him, and tried to soothe him. Lang, seeing himself deceived in his expectation, and that he could not attain death by such means, committed suicide,--being then a man of seventy years of age. Paou had really no intention to put Kw[)o] lang to death, and he was exceedingly sorry at what happened. [sd: (8 v.)] "We others," said Paou, "are like vapours dispersed by the wind; we are like the waves of the sea, roused up by a whirlwind; like broken bamboo-sticks on the sea, we are floating and sinking alternately, without enjoying any rest. Our success in this fierce battle will, after a short time, bring the united strength of government on our neck. If they pursue us in the different windings and bays of the sea--they have maps of them[47]--should we not get plenty to do? Who will believe that it happened not by my command, and that I am innocent of the death of this officer? Every man will charge me with the wanton murder of a commander, after he had been vanquished and his ships taken? And they who have escaped will magnify my cruelty.[48] [sd: (9