A Seaman's Narrative of His Adventures During a Captivity Among Chinese Pirates on the Coast of Cochin-China

During the time of the Second Opium War between Britain and China (185660) sailor Edward Brown (about whom little is known) was discharged from a trading vessel in Hong Kong. He was then offered the opportunity to captain a Chinese-crewed ship bound for Wai-how on the west coast though he was warned that it was a risky enterprise because of the ongoing hostilities. Soon his ship was chased by Chinese pirates and Brown was taken captive for many months in Cochin-China (southern Vietnam). Published in 1861 this engaging account of his captivity attempts at escape and eventual return to his livelihood as a mate on a trading ship is told in a lively style and gives a first-hand account of both a turbulent time in one of the world''s most dangerous seas and the different people and customs he encountered in the course of his enforced time on land.