008 - Chapters 25-27

Embark on a thrilling journey aboard the Eamont, an opium clipper crafted in Cowes and immortalized in Captain Lindsay Andersons 1891 book, A Cruise in an Opium Clipper. This remarkable vessel played a pivotal role in opening Japan to foreign trade in 1858, serving as a daring dispatch boat between Nagasaki and Shanghai. The Eamont was not only one of the first ships to establish trade with Formosa but also undertook perilous missions, including a courageous survey of the port of Taku, where she braved treacherous reefs and formidable surf. Amidst the chaos of a typhoon and attacks from armed natives, the Eamonts captain, a renowned fighter feared by Chinese pirates, proved his mettle in the face of danger. Additionally, the Eamont was instrumental in negotiating the first commercial treaty with Japan. (See Wikipedia article on Eamont (schooner) - Summary by Wikipedia and David Wales)