THE PORT OF QUINCHANG. 563

passing between us, by way of discourse, we went forward directly
for Nankin; and in about thirteen days’ sail came to an anchor at
the south-west point of the great Gulf of Nankin, where, by the
way, I came by accident to understand that two Dutch ships were
gone the length before me, and, that I should certainly fall into
their hands. I consulted my partner again in this exigency; and
he was as much at a loss as I was, and would very gladly have
been safe on shore almost anywhere. However, I was not in such
perplexity neither; but I asked the old pilot if there was no creek
or harbour which I might put into, and pursue my business with
the Chinese privately, and be in no danger of the enemy? He
told me if I would sail to the southward about two and forty
leagues, there was a little port called Quinchang, where the fathers
of the mission usually landed from Macao, on their progress to
teach the Christian religion to the Chinese, and where no Euro-
pean ships ever put in; and if I thought to put in there, I might
consider what further course to take when I was ashore. He con-
fessed, he said, it was not a place for merchants, except that at
some certain times they had a kind of a fair there, when the mer-
chants from Japan came over to buy the Chinese merchandise.

We all agreed to go back to this place. The name of the port
as he called it [ may perhaps spell wrong, for I do not particu-
larly remember it, having lost this, together with the names of
many other places set down in a little pocket-book which was
spoiled by the water, on an accident which I shall relate in its
order; but this I remember, that the Chinese or Japanese mer-
chants we corresponded with called it by a different name from
that which our Portuguese pilot gave it, and pronounced it, as
above, Quinchang.

As we were unanimous in our resolutions to go to this place,
we weighed the next day, having only gone twice ashore, where
we were to get fresh water; on both which occasions the people
of the country were very civil to us, and brought us abundance of
things to sell to us, I mean, of provisions, plants, roots, tea, rice,
and some fowls; but nothing without money.

We came to the other port (the wind being contrary) not till
five days, but it was very wuch to our satisfaction. And I wag