Chui A-poo
Encyclopedia
Chui A-poo was a 19th century Qing
Chinese
pirate who commanded a fleet of more than 500 junk
s in the South China Sea
. He was one of the two most notorious South China Sea pirates of the era, along with Shap Ng-tsai.
In September 1849, his fleet, which was based in Bias Bay east of Hong Kong
, was destroyed by British
warships. More than 400 pirates were killed and Chui was seriously wounded.
Although he managed initially to escape, he was betrayed and handed over to the British. A bounty of $500 for the gruesome murder of two officers may have facilitated this. His punishment was life-long exile to Van Diemen's Land
(now Tasmania), but he hanged himself in his cell before it could be carried out.
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
pirate who commanded a fleet of more than 500 junk
Junk (ship)
A junk is an ancient Chinese sailing vessel design still in use today. Junks were developed during the Han Dynasty and were used as sea-going vessels as early as the 2nd century AD. They evolved in the later dynasties, and were used throughout Asia for extensive ocean voyages...
s in the South China Sea
South China Sea
The South China Sea is a marginal sea that is part of the Pacific Ocean, encompassing an area from the Singapore and Malacca Straits to the Strait of Taiwan of around...
. He was one of the two most notorious South China Sea pirates of the era, along with Shap Ng-tsai.
In September 1849, his fleet, which was based in Bias Bay east of Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, was destroyed by British
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
warships. More than 400 pirates were killed and Chui was seriously wounded.
Although he managed initially to escape, he was betrayed and handed over to the British. A bounty of $500 for the gruesome murder of two officers may have facilitated this. His punishment was life-long exile to Van Diemen's Land
Van Diemen's Land
Van Diemen's Land was the original name used by most Europeans for the island of Tasmania, now part of Australia. The Dutch explorer Abel Tasman was the first European to land on the shores of Tasmania...
(now Tasmania), but he hanged himself in his cell before it could be carried out.