Page:Chinese account of the Opium war (IA chineseaccountof00parkrich).pdf/40

 sizes, besides engaging opium-running snake-boats, etc., all armed with rockets, stink-pots, ladders, and every kind of equipment. Admiral confidentially recommended an increase of troops; but firmly refused, fearing that this would jeopardise the peace negotiations. Notwithstanding an indemnity of seven million taels offered by him for the opium destroyed, a port was also demanded. at first thought of Amoy and Hongkong, and consulted ; but the latter objected to Amoy as being the key to Fu Kien; and, as to Hongkong, he argued that this island occupied. a prominent and central position in Canton waters, sheltered from bad weather by the two islands of Tsim- shá Tsui and K‘wên-tái Lou, which, if fortified by the English, would be a perpetual menace to Canton. had represented this to the Throne, and therefore could not go back upon his own word, and accept 's proposals. Correspondence and interviews led to no result; so at last, on the 7th of January 1841, suddenly attacked the Shá-kok and the Tái-kok forts, the first important line of defence outside the Bogue. The guns of the fleet bombarded the forts in front, and about 2,000 Chinese traitors scaled the hills and attacked them in the rear. A hundred or more of these were blown up by exploded mines; but the rest, far out-