CHAPTER XI. REIGN OF KEA-KING, FIFTH EMPEROR OF THE MANTCHOW DYNASTY. THE late emperor had chosen his fourth son to succeed him, because he entertained a very high opinion of his disposition and talents for government; but the conduct of the new monarch soon proved that both his virtues and abilities had been very much overrated by the partiality of his fond father, for, as soon as he was his own master, he began to indulge in pleasures that would have been extremely unbecoming in a prince of less pretensions, but were more especially so in the supreme head of the Celestial empire, who styles himself the "son of heaven," and the "august ruler." Kea-king seems to have imbibed a great distaste for the restraints and etiquette of the Chinese court, which are, no doubt, excessively fatiguing, as every word and movement of the emperor ought to be in accordance with that dignified and even sacred character with which he is invested, and which most of the imperial rulers of China have made it their study to maintain. The Mantchow emperors had all been eminently distinguished by the stately air and grave deportment naturally looked for in those who are venerated as beings partaking of a superior nature; but Kea-king was utterly destitute of these lofty attributes, and not only indulged in an immoderate love of wine, but selected his favorite associates from among the actors, who, in China, are considered the very lowest class of the community. It is even said that, when heated with wine, he sometimes degraded himself so far as to take a part in the dramatic performances of his chosen companions. The ministers openly remonstrated with him respecting these disgraceful propensities, but their admonitions were in vain; and one of them, Soong-tajin, a man of very high talent, who was exceedingly useful to the state, was banished for presuming to speak freely on the subject of his faults. The people soon became dissatisfied with a monarch whom they could not respect, and insurrections broke out in many parts of the country; incited in some cases by the elder princes, who felt themselves aggrieved at the preference that had been given by their father to their younger brother. Kea-king was as unpopular among the Tartars as among the Chinese; for while the latter were shocked at his indifference to ancient customs, the former were discontented at his neglect of the annual hunting excursions, esteemed as the grand business of life by all the Tartar soldiers, as well as by the tributary nations dwelling beyond the wall, and which had never been omitted by his three predecessors. One of the consequences resulting from this state of affairs was the formation of secret associations, called Triad societies, which are known still to exist to a great extent their object being to overthrow the present government and restore the native princes to the throne. The triads, who may be called revolutionists, knew each other by secret signs, like the freemasons; and although it may appear extraordinary that a people so entirely under "espionage" as the Chinese should be able to keep up such an institution, it is confidently asserted that the Triads form, at this moment, a considerable party in China, and in that case a revolution is not a very improbable event. race. In consequence of the disturbed state of the empire, numerous bands of robbers infested the interior of the country, while the pirates of the Ladrone islands renewed their depredations on the coast. Among these was a noted corsair named Ching-yih, who was no less renowned and feared than the famous Koshinga had been in the time of the first emperor of the Mantchow This formidable chief was in the habit of levying contributions on all the merchant vessels that appeared in the Chinese seas; he plundered the villages on the coast, and did not hesitate to engage in battle with the imperial fleet. It was strongly suspected that he received secret assistance from many Chinese merchants of Amoy and Canton, who were disaffected toward the reigning family; but whether this was true or not, he had a very powerful force at his command, and committed the most horrible barbarities with impunity. Ching-yih was accidentally drowned, but his death did not put a stop to the lawless practices of his people, for his widow, who might have been esteemed as a great heroine in a worthier cause, took the command of the fleet, headed the rovers in all their piratical expeditions, and actually fought in several engagements with the government forces. These Amazonian qualities were combined with very extraordinary talents as a ruler; for the chieftainess drew up a regular code of laws for the government of her people, by which they were bound to act equitably toward each other; and thus order was preserved among them. For some time, this female corsair maintained the sovereignty of the Chinese seas; insomuch that no merchant-ships could navigate them in safety without a pass from her, which she granted on payment of a certain toll, and this pass protected them from any piratevessels they might encounter on their passage. At length, disputes arose among the pirate-captains; and the chieftainess, beginning to find her position a difficult one to maintain, concluded a regular treaty of peace with the governor of Canton, who was rewarded by government with a peacock's feather, the usual mark of distinction bestowed on a military or naval commander for any eminent service rendered to the state. The lady, who had assumed so unfeminine a character, withdrew from the conspicuous situation in which she had placed herself, to live in retirement, while most of the pirates, being thus left without a leader, made submission, and were received into the service of the government. The In the meantime, the whole country was in a very unsettled state. province of Pe-che-le was overrun with armed bands, composed partly of those who had become robbers by profession, and partly of revolutionists, who joined with the banditti as a means of strengthening their force. All were equally terrible to the peaceful inhabitants, who were plundered with impunity, the robbers coming in such numbers as to intimidate the magistrates, some of whom were possibly more inclined to encourage than to . oppose them. In the year 1813, the palace at Peking was suddenly attacked by a numerous body of armed men, who forced the gates, and rushed into the great hall, with the intention of seizing the emperor, and obliging him to abdicate the throne. A similar attempt had been made ten years previously, since which time Kea-king had taken care to have a strong body-guard in constant attendance; and besides this precaution, a double guard was posted at every gate; therefore it is supposed that the conspirators must have had confederates in the palace, who facilitated their entrance; otherwise there must have been a desperate struggle with the soldiers, which does not appear to have been the case. A terrible scene of confusion ensued. The princes and attendant officers surrounding their sovereign made a gallant defence; and Taou-kwang, his second son, had the good fortune to save his father's life, by shooting two of the insurgents who were in the act of rushing upon the emperor. Much blood was shed before the palace was cleared of the assailants, who were, however, at length dispersed, and the insurrection was eventually subdued. No more disturbances of any importance happened during the reign of Kea-king, who named as his successor the young prince, whose timely aid had preserved his life. About three years after this rebellion, another embassy was sent by the British government to the court of Peking, to complain anew of the manner in which the trade with England was conducted at Canton. The good effect produced by the interference of Kien-long had been but temporary, for his successor, being as, narrow-minded as he was weak and vicious, hated all Europeans, and suffered the Chinese merchants to impose upon them in the most unscrupulous manner. Lord Amherst, the embassador on this occasion, proceeded to Peking by the same route that Lord Macartney had previously taken; but his reception at the various places he stopped at on the journey, was very different from that given to the former embassador, nor did he meet with similar attention with regard to accommodation and entertainment, all which clearly indicated the unfavorable disposition of the sovereign respecting the object of the mission. In short, on the arrival of the embassy at Peking, the old dispute relative to the kotou was revived, and the conduct of the embassador was so entirely misrepresented to the emperor, that no audience was granted; and thus the English not only failed in obtaining a redress of grievances, but were disappointed of seeing the imperial court of the Chinese empire. One grand object of this unsuccessful embassy had been, as before, to |