Travel Reference
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trouble. The appearance of a British warship, even one in an obvi-
ously distressed state, meant trouble. If Anson's requests were gran-
ted there was little doubt that the Centurion would soon be looking
for Spanish prizes. The residents at Macao were horrified at the pro-
spect of naval engagements in Chinese waters. It took weeks of argu-
ment, bribery and threats for Anson to get what he wanted. At last
he succeeded, through frightened interpreters, in making his reluct-
ant hosts realise that they would not be rid of him until he had a
seaworthy, well-provisioned, properly-manned ship under his com-
mand.
In mid-January a hundred Chinese workmen came aboard and,
at long last, the Centurion had the complete overhaul she so desper-
ately needed. She was beached for careening. Rotten planks were re-
placed. She was completely recaulked and resheathed. New masts,
spars, rigging and sails had to be made. The boats needed to be re-
paired. Anchors, chain and cable lost during storms had to be re-
placed. Anson made sure that the refit was thorough. He left noth-
ing to chance. The work took two months, during which the Centuri-
on 's crew, cargo, cannon and movables were lodged in huts specially
constructed nearby. When she was ready the commodore had her
fully provisioned. But in one respect he failed: he could not obtain
the men he needed. The East India Company captains refused to part
with any of their sailors and strenuous recruiting ashore resulted
only in a motley bunch of twenty-three Indians, Dutchmen and Las-
cars. These brought the Centurion's strength up to 237 officers and
men. She should have carried a complement of 400.
By the beginning of April the nervous authorities were growing
very impatient:
April 3rd 1743 . . . Two Mandarin's boats anchored here from Ma-
cao, being very urgent with us to go away and refusing to assist us with
 
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