~ from the female pirates series ~

Cheng I Sao, a woman who once made
her living as a prostitute, seduced her
adopted son after the death of her husband. 
She oversaw a force of 70,000 pirates and
a fleet of over 1,800 junks that plundered
ships and looted villages throughout Canton. 

Imperial fleets were sent to capture the pirate
queen but failed.  Instead, they offered her
amnesty in the form of a pardon so that she
would side with them.  Cheng I Sao then
ended her plundering reign.  With piracy
behind her, she took up smuggling. 

You can go to Jennifer Marlow's Page
or view this painting in the Jennifer Marlow Gallery