The National Register.
London, England, 1817-11-10 00:00:00

REVIEW OF LITERATURE.

Narrative of a Voyage in his Ittfleisfis late Ship Al-
ceste, to Me Yellow Sea, along. the Coast (4' the Corm,
and through itssatmeroashithertonudiscwried Islands,
to the Island of Lined:eta, Wit Account of her
Shipwreck in the Straits of Gasp
BY JOHN hi'LEOD, SURGEON OF THE ALCESTE.

(etwriulalfruns °lark:S.)
W ::N the Natives of the island of Lewehew had sa.
tislied yes that there was nothing hostile towards
them connected with the arrival of the Alceste and
Lyra, they readily acceded to Captain Maxwell's re-
quest to be allowed to retain in the harbour a length
of time sufficient to repair the vessels, and to be sap.
plied with water and provisions, payment for which
should be made, The supply of both, and indeed of
every thing necessary, was abundant, but they would
receive no payment whatever. It being requisite to
have some accommodations on shore flu the rope.
makers, smiths, carpenters, &c. this was hinted to
them ; but they desired that nothing of the kind might
be attempted till the king's pleasure should be known;
in compliance with this, nothing was done, cscry one
remained on board till the 2:2a, when the Captain was
infOrmed that a distinguished personage intended pay.
ing him a visit.
" At the mouth of a little ricer, in front of which we were
anchored, we observed this chief embarking amidst a great
concourse of people. He was saluted on his approach with
three gums from each ship, sod received on hoard with every
mark of respect. He was a Mall about sixty years of age,
with a venerable beard ; his dress a purple robe, with very
loose Metres, and fastened round his middle with a sash of
red silk 1 he had sandals on his feet, with white gaiters, not
unlike short stockings. His cap (the badge (Whim dignity)
was made of some slight material, twisted 'math into folds,
and covered with a light purple coloured silk. He had a on.
merous suite with Idol ; some Were official people of different
ranks, and the rest his personal attendants. Here the occa-
sion of our visit was again discussed; the pumps were set to
work to shew the effect of the leak ; and promises, on their
past, remewed,of every assistance.
" Although they had not heard from the king on the sob.
jeet of our coming on shore, and notwithstamling it was con.
nary to a genet al rule for any stranger to land II pun their coast,
yet a few of the ‘;fficers were always is 011ie to walk about
o Ohm eel tido bounds. After pal taking of a very handsome
entertainment, he took his leave, the captain promising to re •
tarn his visit. At one o'clock on the following day the boats
were manned, and Captains Maxwell and Hall, with several
of the officers in full on,form, proceeded into Napa-kiang.
" At the lauding place, the party were met by some of the
chiefs, who hail been most it: the habit of visiting the ships,
each of whom, taking one of the officers by the hand, led him
through us immense collection of spectators to the gate of a
public building, where the old gentleman already mentioned
attended to welcome them into the house. Here an enter-
tai 1111 l ent was served up which a pastry-cook, or connoisseur
in eating might describe; bUt which to another might be a
difficult task. The utmost good humour, however, prevailed,,
and a liqueur (chazzi) something like rosolio, was passed
round in abundance, so that it was quite a loan's owe fault if
he was Dot cheerful.

" Many loyal and ft iendly toasts, applicable to both coon..
tries, were given and drank with enthusiasm. As they had
hitherto generously supplied the ships with fresh provisions,
vegetables, atid Enid, sod constantly reinsert any kind of
payinebt, either in money ur by way of barter, the captains
thought this A proper opportunity to offer, as a mark of their
personal regard, some presents to the chiefs, consisting of
various wines, cherry brandy, English broad cloths, a tele.
scope, and other things ; and on this ground only they were
accepted, reserving it to themselves, at the same time, to
make what personal return they might think proper to this
interchange of friendship.
" At the run of this conference, when it was proposed to
take a walk over the city, a consultation %t is held 4isiong
them; when the request was mildly declined, supposed to
be through the influence of Buontsparte, a man of dark and pe.
culler aspect, so named because lie was suspected of being
the must incluied to keep us at at [ifs lenglii,) stating, they
were afraid sonic bad people might be induced to treat tit
with disrespect. It was evident they hail not the power,
without higher authority, to admit us to liver ricers; tUr the
people tbemsclve•, almost without exception, appeared by
this :Mae to have no appi ehension about our motives. After
much hilaiity the party took their leave, attended the saute
way as on landing.

•' It was M otthy of notice bow much regularity and deco-
rum existed among so many thousands as were here collected.
A lame Was formed, on the inner side of which the smallest
boys (generally kneeling) were placed; aitothyr row squatted
behind these ; (hell the men (thou: nearest stooping a tittle);
and outside the still taller p,•upie.or those mutinied on stones,
; so that all, without bustle or coolusion, might have a
conipkte view of the sitmagers. The utmost silence reigned,
and nut a whisper was health Perhaps tl:ey had I tnpose.y
sent their women out of the way, but the ladies managed kits
usual) to outwit them, and to gratify curiosity, in defiance of
eve' y precaution to the contrary. A number of them had
either been placed intentionally ou the min ,side oi the river,
or left nitre in consequence ot all the men haying collie ucer
to the silOW ; but the boats, in Ainug out, had to pass %attain
a few yards of their pier-head; when, finding Iltem.•elves ut
almost exclusive possession of that bank, they tell tite.r
sn,:-
n•n, on a bill, ran down to the point, and hail then p.el•,
whilst their t tends t u the opposite shore were un mid if
been their intention, to keep them in the tack aronsto.
" About this period a mutual friendship bewitt es...l‘. be-
tween tis ; coundence took place of timidity ; and it %%,
stead of permitliug only a few to *isit the Ault at a tone, 'Ile:
tatted up the golden of a temple as .tent of general
for us: the habitations of the pries:s wen• atiotted rs .w
loispiial fur the sick, whilst oth.r t. :rotary boildines
bamboo *vete et ected for the reception powder, sib:.
requited ai: mg. and for various at ~s w.aittts4 insi.t...t .1.
aid tepau. "The rope-makers, smiles, and usher al .I..re.
weir established at a couvem. tit spur, About a mits.
Moog the beach. They con, aim u it,, t. 1,1141 suppmt•s,
ing us even fresh water on board in then boats ; and, t
Standing we requited some wood for spars, they tel..
Gees, ❑oated them dowil We river, and towed them

..:43

aide, singing weir usual boat-son‘ which had a very plain-
tive and pleasing effect.
The island of Lechew Is about sixty miles long and twen •
to broad ; Napa Kiang, our position,) and within live miles of
Kint citing, the capital, lying in tat hides. I t min. N., long.
127 deg. 52 min. I see. E. This is its somh-west, point, the
main body sit the island extending from hence north, a little
east* ly.
It is the princill island of a group of thirty-six, sulice•
to the sautellloll4lT-E, and the seat le the government. The
illative,. wire their history back to a period long anterior to
the Christian era; but their first communication with the rest
of the world. when their accounts became fully corroborated
and undisputed, was about the ray btri,, when they were
invaded by China, who found them at that time—a time when
England and the great pant of Europe were immersed in bar-
b tram —the same kind of people they are at the present day,
with the exception of a few Chinese innovations ; or, at least
they appear to have altered but in a very slight degree. In.
deed, it is very obvious that a revolution in manners, and al.
tergjion in habits, are by no means so likely to occur it ith a
peditle thus living in an (shone and secluded state, as among
those who have a wider intercom, e with other nations. The
Italy connexion a hillitneLew chests have had w lib their neigh-
bours, and that but very limited, has been with Japan and
China, from neither of whom they were likely to receive any
ezamp!e of change."
- - - • • ••

" The dress of these people is as remarkable for its simpli-
ei:y as for its elegance. The hair, which is of a glossy black,
being anointed with an oloagenons sub-ranee, mitained from
the leaf of a tree, is tamed up from b-fore' from behind, and
on both sides. to the crown of the ho ul, and there tied close
down ; great care being taken that all should be perfectly
smooth, and the part of the hair beyond the fastening, or
shrine, tieing now twisted into a neat little top-knot, is time
retained by two fasteners, called " camesashee" and " usisa.
shee," matle either of gold, silver, or brass, according to the
circumstances of the wearer ; the homer of these having a
little star on the end of it, which points forward. This mode
of hair-dressing is practised with the greatest uniformity,
from the highest to the lowest of the males, And has a very
pleasing effect, whether viewed singly, or when they are
gathered together. At the age of ten years the boys are en-
titled to the " usisashee," and at fifteen they wear both.—
Except those, in office, who wear only a cap on duty, they
appear to has e no covering for the head, at least in tine wea-
ther. Interiorly they wear a kind of shirt, and a pair of
drawers, but over all a loose robe, with wide sleeves, anda
broad sash rinind their middle. Th, y have sandals on their
feet, neatly tOrmed of straw ; and the higher orders have also
white gaiters, coming above tic dock. The quality Of their
robes depends on that ante imlividual. The superior classes
Weill silk of various hues, %do a sash of contrasting colour,
sometimes interwoven with gold. —The lower orders male use
Of a sort of cotton shill, gellVt ally of a chesemt colour, sad
sometimes striped, or spotted, blue and white."
" (fa the female attire we timid make but little observa-
tion. The higher ranks are said to wear, and indeed some
were seen with, simply a loose flowing robe, without any
sash; the hair either hanging louse over the shouldiers, or
tied up over the kit side of the head, the ends falling down
again. The lower orders seemed to have petticoats scarcely
deeper than a Highlander's kilt. with a short, but loose ha-
bit above.'

" Natore has been bountiful in all her gifts to liewchew
for such is the felicity of its soil and climate, that productions
of the vegetable kingdom, very distinct in their nature, and
generally found in regions far distant from each other, grow
hear side by side. It is nut merely, as might be Clpeeled,
the country of the orange and the lime; but the banyan of
Indian anti the Norwegian fir, the tea Thud. 01141
ill flottri.li together. Li addition to many good qualities, not
rifted thund coml • -el, this island eau also boast its elvers
and Seem e harbours; arid List, though not least, u worthy, a •
friendly, and a happy 1.0(.0 Of people.
" Many of these i.landets efsplayeil a spirit of intelligence
anti genius, winch m*ollll4l the' 1111 l Exit-n(0'110a, y, consider-
ing the confuted Circle in a Melt they live ; such confinement
hieing almost universa4• found to be productive of narrow,
nes' of mitiel. Our Emmas here mew an esception to the .
general role. - Madera. Cieyong, one of our most constant and
intimate friends, neglnnlf such proficiency in the English
the ceriuse of a few weeks, as to make himself
tole-idiot) node' loud. lie es idently came on board, in the
St , as a spy mom out conduct, he rote they were
satisfied that we meatii nu harm; and im 01.111 54.4.1. eser bet-
ter atapted for this duty f for his conciliator! and .pleasing
manner o 011 upon all hearts, he had klieriekui e a main al access
every where, and bad " stiaiagems ur seliems" existed, he
of all others was Ilic.inust likely person to have discovered
them.
" His not assn fling his proper character, which was that
of a manr of sonic distinction, until his nitwit was ttAieti about
us, and his then doing it with frankness, is a prooli hat such
wore Its original motives. To acquit-e our tongue, be marked
the sound of any English word for the trust familiar :uncles
of the taint. ur (1.1'111.1 of conversati 1111 l and noted them in
symbols of iii 6 own line.oiage, with Own. signified:mu, offich
enabled him, with slight reference to his. vocabulary, to ma-
nage with t leaving recourse to the interpreter. If he hap-
pened 111 he walking on slime with any of the officers, he
would loot lose the sound or me, gof a weird because lie
hail nut his hunk w itli him, but scratched it ou the leaf of a
tiee, and transcribed it at his leisure. His first attempt to
unm-et smartie'. was rather sualdou and unexpected:—
Bast lig ill g,i no ay one erelong after his usual lesson, Ise slow-
iy MA 11'111.0E11, " 1 011 give Inc good wine,--1 tank you,--1 go
allot lie delighted in receiving inffirmatiots, and his te.
mai ks seers• always pertinent. The map of the world, with
the traei, 01 the shill h out Eoglaud to Lewchew, was pointed
ont .aiiiaiiiied to him, which he, as well as others, secon
to trace with peculiar care, and at last, in a great degree,
to comp. clienet, although the subject was, lit the first instance,
entirely lira to them, fur they et rtaiiily had 110 idea of the
Vast extent or figure of the. globe. Ile was gay or serious, as
occasion required, but W 45 always respectable ; and of Ma.
dtra it might be truly said, that lie was a gentleman, not,
formed upoii this model, or according to that rule, but'
‘• stamped as 5111.11 by the sovereign bawl of Natut e."
" they all Nt.1!111t-ti to be gilled with a sort of politeness
which had toe fattest Claim to be termed natural; for diet-t-
-wat notkiiig coaitrained, *minim; slid or studied to it.
• Capra 1 alaswell Laving one day iiivited a patty to dine,
with him, the he ilth of the King of Li-welters was drank nit a
b 0121.4 r . of taeat, immediately addressilia itii
dint in, hog to the interpretet min to
sidle how notch they fell grddied by such a t:111111111111Vlit 11241
lit V a1,2::1 lake care to testi it to ever, body w lan they mein
On shore ; and proposed, at the saute time, a buttiker to the
ikiag of th?. Ltriefecs."

• .4

THE NitTIONAL REGISTER

One of the sailors died here, and was interred in a
small burial-ground near the landing place ; the na-
tives put on their mourning (white robes with black
or blue sashes) and attended the procession to the grave ;
and an inseriptien having been drawn on a stone
with indian ink, they managed to cut it out in a very
tolerable manner, and placed it at the head of the
grave, and the next day their prie►ts performed their
own funeral service over it.

A few days previous to quit ting Lewchew, a person of
high distinction (said to be heir to the crown) visited
the Aleeste in great state.
" He was above the usual size of the Lewehewa, and bad
rather more of an European countenance. His robe was of
a dark pink coloured silk, the cap rather lighter, with bright
yellow flowers on it. In Iris mien and deportment 'Abele was
much dignified simplicity; for, although his carriage was that
of a man °filial' rank, it was totally unmixed with the least
appearance of hauteur ; and his demeanour was, altogether,
extremely. engaging.
" As he passed along the decks, his own people saluted him
by ktieelinv; clasping the hands before their breasts and
bossing the head. He examined miuttcly every thing about
the ship, and seemed equally pleased and surprised ailh all
he sa w. tier joining in a sumptuous collation is the cabin,
he took his leave with the same hononrs as when he came on
board, has ing previously invited the captain and officers to
on entertainment on shore. The day appointed tar this feast
happening to be the 2:stii of October, the anniversary of our
venerable Sovereign's accession to the throne, a royal salute
was tired, at suu.rise, try both ships : at noon the standat d
was hoisted, the ships dressed in colours, mid another salute
tired ; af.er which the boats, with their flags flying, containing
the captains and every oftiner that could puasibly be spared,
proceeded into Napa-kiang.
" Thr y a ire received precisely as ou the former occasion,
except that the number of grandees was greater, and there ,
appeared a higher degree of state. The prince received'
the party at the gate, and conducted them into the ball. TI ree
tables acre laid close to each miler, the first ibr the "great
man" and the captains, the second for the superior officers,
and the third for time young gentlemen. This prince, or chief,
I did the humors of his own table, occasionally directing his
attention to the others ; but a man of some rank was added
toe ach of them, for the purpose of seeing the strangers pro-
perly treated, as well as to pass and proclaim the toasts ; mid
tire this ;impose they were allowed to be seated, all the rest
standing round the room, but, at the r'ii-se Vine, joining
heartily in the general mirth and glee. The health, of our
King and Royal Family were toasted with much respect, and
the a 111 l ixersary of his Majesty's accession was a day of real
jubilee at Naputiat. The sovereign of Lewchew, the queen
and princes, were proposed by our party; whilst they (never
deficient in politeness) toasted the wives and childrut oh their
It lends, the Engelees."
" As the boats shoved oft from the landing place, the crews
gave them three cheers, wind) they returned in their own
style of salutation. They had sent oft board the ship a great
number of cottoned raper lanterns, tor the purpose of Multi-
listing her at night, iv honour of our King. This was done after
dark, the lanterns being regularly auiged along the yards and rig-
ging. the main deck ports illuminate], sky rockets thrown up, and
blue lights burnt at the yard arms, bowsprit, and spanker-boon) ends,
reu-dc-joierif muwptetry, thrice repeated round the ship. The
whole had a very brilliant effect twin the shore, where thousands of
the natives had oolleetod to view the scene. About this time the bout.
swain's wife of the Alceste, who had Wen a good deal an shore, and
was much noticed by the higher class of natives, had a splendid pro-
ms:it mule, by a deputation from some great man, toremain IX lend,
a grand house to live in, and all manner 111 finery and attentions:
great ofli is. were also made to the btaitswain to induce him to comply
anti this bargain; but (after two dap' consideration) the negoeia-
tam 14 as broken off on the part oldie husband, who refusel to part with
her. These proposals most likoh ume from the king, for it is not
probable that any subject could ha:'c entered intuit treaty of this cwt."

Nothing i;oulti be more. kind- or more friendly than
the. conducts?' these people, when the ships were aboat
to quit the island. On the morning of the '27th of
October, as they unmoored, the inhabitants appeared
drest in their Lest attire, and made otkrings to their
Gods, u s their temple, beseechiug them to protect the
Emac4vs, and restore them in safety to their native land.
hen this ceremony was completed, those with Meer;
the Captain and otLers had been most timelier •' crowd-
ed on board to shake hands and say farewell ! whilst
the tears which many of them shed s‘inectl the sincerity
of their .attaehumnt ; at the ships got under way,
they .lingered along side in their canoes, displaying
every sign of atfectionate regard."

Did our limits permit, we should give a few umre
extracts, particularly from that part which describes
the proceedings of thc.crew or the desert island of Palo
Lem oiler the Ship►vreck of the Alceste in the Straits
of ( ;aspar ;—the volume, however, is not of high-price;
anal we recommend its entire perusal to our readers.—
One circumstance, we cannot pass over un-noticed,
namely the discovery of.a human skeleton in the woods
of the island by a liarty,of the crew in searching thr
water : " the horrid idea," says Mr. M'Leod, " of his
having died from thirst rushed on every mind."—The
idea was certainly irresistible, and ►dust, till they
were so fortan►ate as to discover water. have added,
not a little to their anxieties and the fears of every
one for his future fate who shall say that this
was nut the skeleton of one solitary being who had es-
caped from a wreck upon the very same rock on which
the Alceste struck ?—We arc told. by Mr. NVl.eod that
had the vessel floated again after she struck, she must
instantly have gone down, since it was deep water all
around, and every soul, in all probability, would have
perished. Is it too much then to suppose, that
on this fatal reef, some of those Will ships had first
struck and then sunk, whose loss is all that has hithertv,
been aseettained respecting then' it is hardly possi-
ble, that the Alceste should have been the first ship to
run upon these rocks : if sl►e was, her loss, and the pre-
s••rvation of the whole of her crew, ►uav be hailed as
an interposition of Providence in pointing out another
of those hidden dangers which lie in the hack of our
Eastern navies.