From thence we sailed still north, keeping the coast of China at anequal distance, till we knew we were beyond all the ports of Chinawhere our European ships usually come; being resolved, if possible,not to fall into any of their hands, especially in this country,where, as our circumstances were, we could not fail of beingentirely ruined. Being now come to the latitude of 30 degrees, weresolved to put into the first trading port we should come at; andstanding in for the shore, a boat came of two leagues to us with anold Portuguese pilot on board, who, knowing us to be an Europeanship, came to offer his service, which, indeed, we were glad of andtook him on board; upon which, without asking us whither we wouldgo, he dismissed the boat he came in, and sent it back. I thoughtit was now so much in our choice to make the old man carry uswhither we would, that I began to talk to him about carrying us tothe Gulf of Nankin, which is the most northern part of the coast ofChina. The old man said he knew the Gulf o