The pirates went in four divisions to plunder; they took here an immense quantity of clothes and other goods, and carried away one thousand one hundred and forty captives of both sexes. They set on fire about ten houses; the flames could not be extinguished for some days; in the whole village you could not hear the cry of a dog or a hen. The other inhabitants retired far from the village, or hid themselves in the fields. In the paddy fields about a hundred women were hidden, but the pirates on hearing a child crying, went to the place and carried them away. [sd: (24 r.)] _Mei ying_, the wife of Ke choo yang, was very beautiful, and a pirate being about to seize her by the head, she abused him exceedingly. The pirate bound her to the yard-arm; but on abusing him yet more, the pirate dragged her down and broke two of her teeth, which filled her mouth and jaws with blood. The pirate sprang up again to bind her. Ying allowed him to approach, but as soon as he came near her, she laid hold of his garments with her bleeding mouth, and threw both him and herself into the river, where they were drowned, The remaining captives of both sexes were after some months liberated, on having paid a ransom of fifteen thousand leang or ounces of silver. [Sidenote: 1809.] Travelling once to Pwan pëen jow I was affected by the virtuous behaviour of _Mei ying_, and all generous men will, as I suppose, be moved by the same feelings. I therefore composed a song, mourning her fate: Ch[.e]n k[.e] k[=i]n se[=a]ou hë[)e], Chúy sz[=e] ch[=u]ng soó mëèn. T[=a]ng sh[=e] shw[)u]y fàn le[)i]h, Y[=e]w nèu t[)u]h n[=a]ng ts[=u]y; Tsë[)e]n h[=e]u[)e] y[=i]ng kwáng në[)e],[75] Yu[=e]n ke[)u] yu[=e]n shw[)u]y we[=i]. Shw[=u]y hw[)a]n p[=o] shàng heà, Y[=i]ng lëe sháng pèi hw[=u]y. [Sidenote: 1809.] Cease fighting now for awhile! Let us call back the flowing waves! Who opposed the enemy in time? A single wife could overpower him. [sd: (24 v.)] Streaming with blood, she grasped the mad offspring of guilt, She held fast the man and threw him into the meandering stream. The spirit of the water, wandering up and down on the waves, Was astonished at the virtue of _Ying_. My song is at an end! Waves meet each other continually. I see the water green as mountain Peih, But the brilliant fire returns no more![76] How long did we mourn and cry![77] BOOK SECOND. [Sidenote: 1809.]