NARRATIVE. [Illustration: _Drawn by C. H. Greenhill._ _Engraved by W. Lee._] NARRATIVE OF A RECENT IMPRISONMENT IN CHINA AFTER THE WRECK OF THE KITE. [Illustration] BY JOHN LEE SCOTT. Second Edition. LONDON: W. H. DALTON, COCKSPUR STREET 1842. LONDON: PRINTED BY G. J. PALMER, SAVOY STREET, STRAND. TO THE RIGHT HON. SIR JOHN PIRIE, BART., LORD MAYOR OF LONDON, THIS NARRATIVE IS, WITH HIS LORDSHIP'S PERMISSION, RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED BY HIS OBEDIENT HUMBLE SERVANT, JOHN LEE SCOTT. PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. My only apology for launching this unvarnished narrative upon the world is, that, after my return to England, I wrote for the amusement, and at the request of my friends, a short account of my shipwreck and subsequent imprisonment in the Celestial Empire; and considering that my sufferings and adventures would, at this time, create an interest with the public at large, they have strongly urged me to publish this narrative. This I have ventured to do, hoping that the faults may be overlooked, and all indulgence shown to a young merchant sailor. _London, Nov. 16, 1841._ CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. Leave Shields--Madras--Hired by government--Arrive at Chusan--Junks--Sickness--Number of Crew--Yeang-tze-keang--Boat breaks adrift--Wreck--Mr. Noble and child drowned--Mrs. Noble--Lieut. Douglas--Vessel rights--Jolly-boat returns--Chinese--Leave the wreck. _Page_ 1-16 CHAPTER II. Get ashore--Village--Appearance of country--Made prisoners--Syrang-- Bound--Chinese gentleman--Old women--Meet some of the crew--Kindness of one Chinese--Put into irons--Insults--Interrogated by mandarin--Death of marines 17-32 CHAPTER III. Temple--Cages--Women--Dinner--Hot water--Taken down a river--City--Guns--Hall of Ancestors--Twizell and the missing party--English prisoner--Corporal of marines--Jail--Other Lascars--Watch 33-49 CHAPTER IV. Captain Anstruther--Kindness to marines--Mandarin's questions--Chinese music--Jolly-boat party arrive--Privations-- Medical treatment--Removed--Sedans--Town--Joshouse--Apartment-- Guard-room 50-66 CHAPTER V. Physician--Visitors--Day's employment--Taken before the mandarin--Letters and clothing from Chusan--Chinese clothes--Irons taken off--Return home--Salamanders--Amusements 67-81 CHAPTER VI. Language--Marine dies--Canton interpreter--Lieut. Douglas--Secret letters--Soap--Money--Christmas--Court-martial-- Fires--Chinese dinner--Ladies' apartments 82-98 CHAPTER VII. Jos ceremonies--Chinese New Year's day--New Testament--Epsom salts--Grief of our jailer--Kites--Procession--Leave Ningpo--Chinhae--Huge idols--Chinese camp--Mandarin's message 99-109 CHAPTER VIII.