If you had fought like a Man you need not have been hang'd like a Dog. Bird and Stone Scourge of the Eastern Sea Jewel of the Whole Crew Wave with Many Fishes Sun on High. The fox seeks the dragon's wing Luster of Instruction. The Widow Ching Lady Pirate Any mention of pirates the fair sex runs immediate risk awakening painful memories neighborhood pro­duction some faded musical comedy with its chorus line obvious housewives posing as and hoofing it on a briny deep unmistakable cardboard. Nonetheless lady there have been—women skilled in handling ships captaincy brutish crews pursuit plunder sea-going vessels. One such was Mary Read who once declared that profession pirate not for everyone to engage dignity one had like her be man courage. At flamboyant outset her career when yet she captained no crew lovers wronged by ship's bully. Challenging fellow duel took him both hands according time­ honored custom West Indies-unwieldy none-too­ sure flintlock left trusty cutlass right. pistol misfired but sword behaved should. Along about 1720 Read's daring career cut short Spanish gallows at St. Jago de la Vega Jamaica. Another buccaneer those same seas Anne Bonney 41 good-looking boisterous Irishwoman high breasts fiery red hair always among first neck boarding prize. She shipmate and end gallows-mate Read Anne's lover Captain John Rackam sported noose occasion too. Contemptuous him came up this harsh variant Aisha's reproach Boabdil: A third member sisterhood more venturesome longer-lived than others operated Asian waters all way from Yellow Sea rivers Annam coast. I speak veteran widow Ching. Apprentice Years Around 1797 shareholders many squadrons China formed combine which they named admiral altogether tried true—a certain So severe so exemplary his sacking coasts terror-stricken inhabitants eighty seaboard towns gifts tears implored imperial assistance. Their pitiful appeal did go unheard: were ordered put their villages torch forget fishing chores migrate inland take unfamiliar science agriculture. All did thwarted invaders found nothing deserted coasts. As result forced switch preying form depredation which since seriously hampered trade proved even obnoxious authorities previous one. govern­ment quick act ordering former fishermen 42 abandon plow yoke mend nets oars. True old fears however these rose revolt set upon another course—that pardoning Ching appointing Master Royal Stables. accept bribe. Finding out time made righteous indignation evident plate poisoned greens cooked rice. morsel proving deadly onetime would-be Stables gave ghost gods sea. His widow transfigured twofold double-dealing called crews together explained them whole in­volved affair urged reject emperor's deceitful pardon unpleasant service rendered poison-dabbling shareholders. proposed instead plun­dering ships own account election new admiral. person chosen slinking woman sleepy eyes smile full decayed teeth. Her blackish oiled hair shone brighter eyes. Under sober orders embarked danger seas. Command Thirteen years systematic adventure ensued. Six Fleet each flying banner different color­ red yellow green black purple (the flagship's) emblazoned serpent. captains known names 43 code rules drawn herself is an unappealable severity straight­ forward laconic style utterly lacking flowers rhetoric lend rather absurd loftiness Chinese officialdom we shall presently offer alarming specimen or two. For now copy few articles widow's code: goods transshipped enemy vessels will entered register kept storehouse. Of stock receive himself ten parts only two rest belong storehouse general fund. Violation ordinance punishable death. punishment abandons post without permission perforation ears presence fleet repeating same he suffer Commerce captive women taken prohibited deck use violence against any woman must requested purser then carried hold. Information extracted prisoners affirms fare consisted chiefly ship biscuits rats fattened human flesh boiled rice that days battle crew members used mix gunpowder liquor. With card games loaded dice metal square bowl fan-tan little lamp pipe dreams 44 opium whiled away time. favorite weapons pair swords hand. Before seizing ship sprinkled cheekbones bodies infusion garlic water considered charm shot. Each crewman traveled wife captain sailed harem five six number victory replenished. Kia-king Young Emperor Speaks Somewhere around middle 1809 public decree transcribe last parts. Its widely criticized. It ran: Men are cursed evil men capable profaning bread pay heed clamor tax collector orphan whose undergarments stitched phoenix dragon deny great truths printed books allow tears run toward North—all disrupting commerce our age-old intimacy In unsound unseaworthy craft tossed storms night day. Nor object benevolence: never true friends seafarer. Far lending aid swoop down most viciously inviting wrack ruin wise do violate natural laws Universe overflow banks vast acreages drowned sons 45 pitted fathers roots rain drought altered.... ...In consequence Admiral Kwo-lang leave your hand administration punishment. Never clemency prerogative throne would presumptuous subject endeavor assume privilege. Therefore merciless impartial obeyed victorious. incidental reference was course false. aim encourage Kwo-lang's expedition. Some ninety later forces face Middle Kingdom. Nearly thousand joined fighting early morning until late evening. mixed bells drums curses gongs prophecies along report ordnance accompanied action. sundered. Neither proscribed nor recommended cruelty had occasion exercised. Kwo-lang observed rite present-day military defeat choose ignore—suicide. Terrorized Riverbanks proud hundred war junks forty victorious mouths Si-kiang port starboard multiplied fires loathsome revels orphans. Entire burned ground. alone passed thousand. twenty sought confused refuge neighboring reedfields paddies 46 betrayed crying baby later sold into slavery Macao. Although remove bereavement wreaked attention Son Heaven. Certain historians contend outcry pained less disaster befell punitive ex­pedition. truth organized second expedition awesome banners sailors soldiers engines war provisions augurs astrologers. command time fell Ting-kwei. fearful multitude delta closing off passage squadron. fitted battle. knew difficult desperate after month plundering idleness weak­ened men. opening battle delayed. Lazily sun stc rippling reeds. waiting. Noons heavy afternoons endless. Dragon Fox And yet evening high shiftless flocks airy dragons squadron gently decks surrounding waters. They lightweight constructions rice paper strips reed akin comets silvery reddish sides repeated identical characters. anxiously studied regular stream meteors read long perplexing fable dragon given protection fox despite fox's ingratitude transgressions. moon grew slender thc sky evening 47 reed figures brought story almost imper­ceptible variants. distressed sank thought. When sky story seemed reach end. Nobody able predict whether limitless descend inexorable end drew near. understanding. threw two swords river kneeled bottom small boat herself rowed flagship. dark filled dragons—this yellow ones. On climbing aboard murmured brief sentence. said. Apotheosis matter history fox received devoted lingering opium trade. also left being assuming name English means From period wrote chronicler lyri­cally began pass repass tranquility. became quiet tranquil four bought oxen plough fields. buried sacrifices said prayers tops hills rejoiced themselves singing behind screens during day-time.