The opium clippers / by Basil Lubbock.

  • Lubbock, Basil, 1876-1944.
Date:
1933
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The opium clippers / by Basil Lubbock. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    R. B. Forbes and S. Cabot. She was named after Forbes’ wife, Rose Green Smith, whom he had married in 1834. He loaded her pretty deep with flour and sent her out to China by way of Callao under Captain B. T. Foster. She had very bad weather and poor trades to start with, was 23 days to the Line after leaving Boston in November, 1836; made the land about Cape St. Thomas on Christmas Day, 37 days out; was in 34° S., 51° W. on January 1, 1837, made the Falklands 55 days out on January 12, entered Magellan Straits on January 15 and anchored in Freshwater Bay. She was a week getting through the Straits according to Forbes and reached Callao on February 13, 86 days from Boston. From Callao she touched at the Sandwich Islands and anchored off Lintin on April 25, 66 days from Callao, having had light winds all the way across the Pacific. Her captain was loud in her praises and pronounced her to be the “neatest craft” in the opium fleet. She became a coaster under Russell’s house-flag. Her first trip North is mentioned by W. C. Hunter, who was on board. She left the Cap-sing-moon Anchorage with 300 chests valued at 300,000 dollars on board. The weather was delightful, the wind steady and the sea smooth which was very satisfactory for Hunter and his English guest, for the Rose's scuppers were within 2 ft. of the water. On the third day out they anchored inside the island of Namoa close to Dent’s brig Omega, and Jardine Matheson’s brig Governor Findlay. “ All Same Custom ” at Namoa. Inshore of the opium clippers two mandarin junks lay at anchor, both dressed with flags, flown from bamboo sticks in exactly the same way that the Tudors flew their steamers and pendants. The largest junk proudly displayed the flag of a Foo-Tseang or Commodore. Until his excellency paid his formal visit to the Rose no trade was possible, no Chinese boat dared to come alongside—not even a bumboat or a sampan. However the Rose had scarcely furled her sails and spread