ABSTRACT
Thus, he remained the master of the southern seas but the Manchus, to deny him a foothold ashore, ordered the withdrawal inland of al1 the inhabitants, and built forts at intervals of three miles to enforce the scorched earth policy. It was probably this measure, rather than the wearing of the queue, which caused them to be execrated by farmers and fishermen alike. With so long a tradition of "free trade", it is doubtful if there were any who could claim immunity from the taint of piracy, and conquerors were unlikely to give them the benefit of the doubt. The souls of those executed are stil1 believed to haunt the coast, and their propitiation devolves on those who wish to lead a quiet life.
